Material in this file includes copy of Liaison, the Student union newspaper, Trinity College Dublin (TCD) [November 1976] and photocopy of slip from Customs and Excise showing 30 copies of "Planning with Discretion" and 6 copies of "Manual of Family Planning" ordered by Mark Turpin, TCD Students Representative, were detained under the Censorship of Publications Act, 09/07/1976 (possibly insert in newsletter?); photocopy of article "Sexual and Contraceptive Attitudes and Behaviour of Single Attenders at a Dublin Family Planning Clinic", Eimer Philbin Bowman, 10/01/1977; article by Mary Robinson which was sent to her by Haymarket publishing, 11/02/1977; newsletter from Contraception Action Programme, [1977/8?]; booklets and letter sent to all Irish Senators and TDs [Teachta Dála; member of Irish parliament] from Hamish Fraser on "Europe's growing awareness of the disastrous consequences of contraception", Ayrshire, United Kingdom, 20/04/1978; flyers on Catholic teaching on contraception [1978?]; flyer from the Order of the Knights of St Columbanus, Ireland from the Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis [political party and their annual congress], on the Health (Family Planning) Bill 1978; SPOD [Resource Group for the Sexual Problems of the Disabled] newsletter, April 1979.
Material in this file includes letter to Mary Robinson (MR) from Flor O'Mahony, Adviser to the Minister for Health, enclosing legal opinion provided to the Department by a former adviser in relation to aspects of Family Planning, 29/04/1977; typed address by Dr Mary Henry at Irish Medical Association meeting "Debate on the Pill", 01/04/1978; flyer relating to launch of Alan Shatter's book "Family Planning: Irish Style", 09/03/1979; typed open letter to legislators from Dr Ivor O'Sullivan and Dr JB Thomson, lecturers, University College Dublin, offering observations on the Health (Family Planning) Bill before it reached final stages, 09/05/1979; handwritten letter from Jack Harte (Senator?) on order of motions [1979?]; letter to MR from Séamus Ó [Nolan?], chair of Seanad Éireann [upper house of Irish parliament (Senate)] regretting that amendments tabled by her and Senator Keating for Committee state of the Health (Family Planning) Bill, 1978, were adjudged out of order on grounds they may have involved potential charge to the public revenue, 11/07/1979; photocopy of parliamentary debates on Family Planning Bill, 1973 including comments by MR, 27/03/1974; circulars and annual report for IFPA (Irish Family Planning Association), 1977-05/05/1979; policy document on Family Planning, and cover letter from Caroline Canton, Honorary Secretary, Irish Association of Social Workers, to all TDs [Teachta Dála, member of Dáil Éireann, lower house of Irish parliament] and Senators, 05/05/1979; statement "from the Irish Bishops' Conference on proposed legislation dealing with Family Planning and Contraception", Catholic Press and Information Office, 04/04/1978; handwritten notes; typed document "Health (Family Planning) Bill, 1978 Seanad Éireann Second Reading Speech", speech by [Minister for Health?], with notations [by MR?]; draft speech by MR at launch of Alan Shatter's Book: "Family Planning: Irish Style", 09/03/1979; typed document "Points on Health (Family Planning) Bill 1978" (preparation for speech?), [1979?]; flyer "contraception - Why Education is Necessary", issued by The Union of Students of Ireland, [1979?]; correspondence between MR and RJ Law, Director of Administration, Irish Family Planning Association in relation to meeting to discuss the Health (Family Planning) Bill and its consequences for the Association 17/07-27/08/1979.
This folder includes flyers from the Revenue Commissioners giving customs guidance for visitors to and residents of Ireland, 1973; brochures and booklets from Jane Quinlan to Mary Robinson (MR) as President [of Cherish, the Irish Association of Single Parents?], Natural Family Planning, a Cork based organisation affiliated with WOOMB [World Organization/Ovulation Method/Billings], which included a booklet on Pre-Menopause and on the Billings Method of Family Planning [197?]; typed draft article/address by MR on the Family Planning Bill 1978 tabled by the Labour party, with notations 197[8?]; typed draft article by MR for the Irish Medical Times "Constitution and Legal Aspects of Family Planning", 197[6?]; flyer from Ballinteer Group of Contraceptive Action Programme (CAP) on Family Planning Survey they carried out, 10/1977, and flyer "Does Mr Haughey's Bill Meet Your Needs" sponsored by them 197[7/8?]; copy of typed article by MR "Reform of the Law Relating to Family Planning in Ireland", 197[8/9?]; typed study on oral contraception including in relation to mortality rates and health risks associated with it, 197[?]; position paper "Applications of Catholic Church teaching", Nov 1978.
General correspondence from those working in professional capacity relating to the contraception and family planning, but which can’t be linked to any specific Bill, including letter to Mary Robinson (MR) from Nuala [?], Clinic Secretary, Fertility Guidance Clinic, enclosing copy of letter they sent to David Andrews, Justin Keating and Garret Fitzgerald TDs [Teachta Dála, member of Dáil Éireann, lower house of Irish parliament] in relation to difficulties they have under the existing Irish Law, 11-20/01/1971; letter to MR from P Keane, Cork Family Planning Clinic giving details requested on when it opened, and numbers of patients and visits, 29/10/1975; correspondence between MR and Sally Keogh, Secretary, Information Committee, Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA), in relation to symposium taking place "Men and Parenthood", 03-05/05/1976, to a request for her to complete short questionnaire to aid them ascertain views held by members of the Oireachtas 29/03/1977, and in relation to a course for couples they were putting on 04/10-22/11/1977; letter from Contraception Action Programme (CAP) in relation to a general meeting being called, 20/01/1977; correspondence between MR and Sue Dipper, CAP Ballinteer in relation to material she sent MR, 05/1978; correspondence between MR and Dr Evelyn Farrell, Galway Family Planning Association in relation to them moving to new premises and requesting she open it, which she declined due to other commitments, 02/06-14/08/1978; flyer with list of centres for Dublin Ovulation Method Advisory Service (DOMAS) and cover letter from K O'Toole, Honorary Secretary, 10/1978.
Material in this file consists of correspondence from members of the public in relation to contraception and Mary Robinson's work in introducing a Family Planning Bill and includes correspondence both for and against this work, some of which was sent anonymously, 04/03/1971-06/02/1979.
General reports, brochures, newsletters and booklets including "The Regulation of Birth" - Encyclical Letter of Pope Paul VI "Humanae Vita", London Catholic Truth Society, 1968, booklet "Anglican Reflections on Humanae Vitae, by Norman RC Dockeray, July 1970, and two copies of booklet "Facing Up to 'Humanae Vitae', by a Catholic Mother, 1971; "The Pill Compendium for 1970"; YLM bulletin, 03/1971; flyer "Catholics and Family Planning", 197[?]; flyer for Christus Rex 1971 congress, Bundoran, 12-15/04/1971 "The Family To-day"; booklet "The Ovulation Method of Natural Family Planning", compiled by Ovulation Method Advisory Service, Cork, 197[?]; booklet "Irish Family Planning Rights Association News No ", [1971?]; booklet "Planning With Discretion - a simple guide to conception control", Syntex Information Service, Maidenhead, England, 09/1972; pamphlet "The Reasons Why Married Sexuality Past History Present Problem", Patrick A Baggot, SJ [Society of Jesus, Jesuit], 11/1972; abstract of Dr Michael Solomons' paper "Dublin's first Family Planning Clinic", London 1971, published Basel 1972, with cover note from Solomons to Mary Robinson (MR); article by Michael Heneghan "Family Planning Bill, and Contraception", sent to all TDs [Teachta Dála, member of Dáil Éireann, lower house of Irish parliament] and Senators, 21/11/1973; report from International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Europe - Region "A Survey of the legal status of contraception, sterilisation and abortion in European Countries, and correspondence between MR and Julian Heddy, Information & Education Section 06/1973-14/10/1974; booklet "Marriage morality: where do we stand?", Patrick A Baggot, SJ, 11/1973; Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) Annual Report 1973; cover letter from Mrs RM Blackith, honorary Secretary, Irish Conservation Society enclosing booklet "Has Ireland A Population Problem", published by the society in 1973, and a flyer for The World Population exhibition "What is the future for Ireland's children?", 04-26/01/1974; material from The Irish Family League including booklet "Is Contraception the Answer?" (11/1973), flyer "Contraception and Abortion The Irish Humanist Objective", booklet "Contraception and the Irish Constitution" by Maurice Dooley, booklet/pamphlet "Alert Oral Contraceptive", and open letter "To The Taoiseach, Members of the Government, Deputies and Senators"197[3-4?]; document "A Question of Perspective - notes by Catholic parents, past and present Committee members of the Irish Family Planning Association (formerly the Fertility Guidance Company) on the Irish Family League pamphlet" and booklet "Facts on Contraception An Answer to ‘The Irish Family League’", 1974 and two copies pf "Advice on Birth Control" Welfare Committee report 197[0-2?]; photocopy of "The Law as it Affects Family Planning in England and Wales", 197[?]; The Victor-Bostrom fund for the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) reports No 15 "The United Nations Faces the Population Crisis", Winter 1971-72, and No 18 "Family Planning: Improving Opportunities for Women", Spring 1974; IFPA Annual report 1974; IPPF Europe Regional Information Bulletins 09/1973-10/1979.
Material in this subsubsubseries relates to Mary Robinson’s work in the area of family planning legislation and efforts to have new legislation replace the Family Planning Act 1979, deemed too restrictive. It includes material relating to the 8th amendment, which was inserted in the Irish constitution following a referendum in September 1983 and which by giving the unborn child equal rights to that of the mother, effectively prohibited abortion. It includes correspondence, reports, draft Bills and articles.
Material in this file consists of correspondence from people in their professional capacity to Mary Robinson (MR) in relation to her work on family planning legislation and is both supportive and negative. It includes photocopy of letter from Michael Murphy, Department of the Public Service (Government) to Eddie Higgins, Branch Secretary, Federated Workers Union of Ireland in relation to the provision of cover for illegitimate children under the Public Service Spouse's and Children's Pension Schemes, 03/11/1981, which was forwarded to MR by Janet Hughes; typed letter from Louis Owens, Education Officer, Family Solidarity, Dublin South East to MR in relation to concerns about two aspects of Government policy and legislation being discussed "The Desmond Contraceptive" and "Sex Education in Irish Schools", 198[1/2?]; circular from "Access For All - a National Network of all those opposed to the Act" in relation to a steering committee being established consisting of "people representing political organisations, clinics, women’s' groups and individuals, opposed to the Family Planning Act", 19/9/198[1/2?]; correspondence between Robert Smith & Company solicitors, and MR in relation to £50 which was left in a will and which was to be left to an organisation nominated by MR (Irish Family Planning Association), as per clause in the will, 04/08-19/11/1982; cover letter from Margaret Walsh, Chairwoman, Council for the Status of Women, and press release reiterating the council's position on the subject of contraception, 09-19/01/1984; typed letter to MR (and other elected politicians) from group of members of medical profession expressing concern at proposals to make sale of contraception freely available, 23/10/1984; letter from May O'Brien, Women's Affairs Official, Irish Transport and General Workers' Union, to all Senators and TDs [Teachta Dála, member of Dáil Éireann, lower house of Irish parliament], in relation to submissions the Irish Congress of Trade Unions had made for new legislation to replace the Family Planning Act 1979, 17/12/1984; flyer from Children's Protection Society in relation to proposals in 1985 Bill to allow sale of contraceptives to singles, with cover note 18/02/1985; declaration "In Support of the right to Access To Information" from Defend the Clinics Campaign, and cover letter from Mary Gordan and Helen Mahony, following the Hamilton judgement which forced "Open Line" to close and the Wellwoman Clinic to cease its non-directive pregnancy counselling service, 06/05/1987, with follow-up requesting her to be a signatory, 19/08/1987.
Material in this file consists of correspondence from members of the public in relation to Mary Robinson’s work on family planning legislation and includes correspondence both for and against this work, some of which was sent anonymously, 20/01/1984-09/03/1989.
This file, labelled "Arklow Survey", consists of material relating to a survey by Arklow Social Studies Group of “Arklow People's knowledge of and attitudes towards family matters", 1981-82, and includes three copies of the survey sent to Mary Robinson (MR) separately by Tom Collins, Lecturer, Centre for Adult & Community Education, St Patrick's College Maynooth, Dr Andrew Rynne, and John F Carroll, General President, Irish Transport and General Workers' Union, 06-31/05/1982, two copies of comment made by MR at a seminar in Arklow, 13/05/1982, and typed summary of keynote speech by MR "Young People and Civil Liberties" at Second National Youth Congress, Dun Laoghaire, 27/03/1982.