File 5 - Drive to amend, update Divorce law – correspondence (professional), 1980s

139pp

Material in this file relates to the drive to amend the Constitution in respect of the prohibition of divorce (10th Amendment to the constitution), including in relation to the referendum in Ireland held on 26/06/1986, and consists predominantly of correspondence from professional individuals and organisations (1980s). It includes correspondence (with Mary Robinson unless otherwise stated) from Jean Tansey, Chairperson, Labour Women's National Council 24/04-17/10/1980; Patrick Quinn, The Incorporated Law Society of Ireland, 15/10/1980; William [Duncan?], 198[0?]; Jesuit Rev Edmund Grace, which included a typed article by him "Divorce and the Natural Law: An Irish Comment", 25/06/1980-21/01/1981; Peter McDermott, Secretary, University College Dublin Branch, Labour Party, 28/01/1981; from John O' Connor to Michael Roberts which included draft chapter of Divorce Information book covering Church attitudes, 12/06/1981; from Pat Conway, Administrator, Women's Aid in relation to need for refuge shelter, 28/10-18/10/1981; from Rev Ramond Field, Director, Catholic Marriage Advisory Council (CMAC), 12/1981; from Professor Desmond Greer, Faculty of Law, Queen's University Belfast, 05/01/1982; from Magda O'Farrell Heuston, Women's Divorce Support Group [03]/1982; from Barry Desmond, Minister for Health and Social Welfare, 17/02-04/03/1983 in which MR lists her criticisms of the terms of reference for a Joint Committee on Marriage Breakdown; from Anne Williams, Trisha Mc Kay, Anne Andrews for AIM [Action Information Motivation] Group 23/06/1983, 07/11/1986, 26/02/1987 including comments from Andrews on the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Bill, 1987; photocopies of correspondence from Wenda Edwards, Chairperson, Family Aid [formerly Women's Aid] to Nora Greene, Community Care Services, Eastern Health Board, 15-22/11/1985; correspondence from Patrick Malone, member Family Solidarity, 18/03/1986; from Daniel O'Sullivan in relation to a programme aired "Today tonight" on the Divorce Referendum (24/04/1986), which was also sent to the press, 29/04/1986; from Aiden Waterstone, Vice President for Public Relations, Irish Association of Social Workers, 06/06/1986; circular "The Divorce Amendment" sent to University of Dublin (Trinity College Dublin) alumni from the three Dublin University Senators MR, Catherine McGuinness and Shane Ross, 12/06/1986; correspondence from Dermot JM Sherlock, Recorder of Alumni, University of Dublin, complaining about use of outdated addresses when "the Divorce Amendment" circular was sent out, 20/06/1986; from Bishop Brendan Comiskey of Ferns, which includes his statement on the Divorce Referendum, 24/06/1986-01/07/1986; from Sean Redmond, Chairman, ICCL [Irish Council for Civil Liberties], 198[?]; from William Duncan, 25/02-05/03/1987; photocopy of letter from Carmel Gilbride, Development Officer, Marriage Counselling Service Ltd., re celebrating its 25th anniversary, 20/10/1987 and copy of their submission to the Joint Committee on Marriage Breakdown from Paul McMahon, Chairman 07-08/03/1988 and circular from Family Lawyer's Association relating to seminar with topic "Family Law - the taxation implications", 07/04/1989.

It also contains a folder labelled "8th Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1980", consisting of some correspondence and draft Bills drawn up by MR and sent to members of the Labour Party, which aimed to offer a way to remove the prohibition on divorce (16/04-12/05/1980). This is not to be confused with the 8th Amendment relating to abortion referred to elsewhere (see P143/1/3/1/2/5).

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