File 1 - Legal issues / responsibilities relating to role

55pp

Correspondence relating to legal issues and responsibilities of role of President of Ireland including typed memo from Micheál [?] on the procedures for the appointment of The Judge Advocate by the President, with copy of Section 15 of the Defence Act 1954, 06/12/1990; handwritten note from Peter Ryan (PR), Secretary to the President, flagging that section 8 of the Adoption Bill was causing concern and attaching photocopy of Dáil debates where the Adoption Bill was discussed, 08-28/05/1991; typed memos from PR to Ann Lane, Personal Assistant to the President, in relation to the appointment of two High Court Judges, at Áras an Uachtaráin [official residence of the President of Ireland], later in the year, 16-20/09/1991; photocopy of Government press release on Taoiseach [Irish Prime Minister]'s nominees for Seanad Éireann [Irish Senate], 10/02/1993; draft text for appointment by MR of Professor Roger Stalley, as Trustee of Chester Beatty Library, 1993; typed memos from Peter Ryan (PR) to Mary Robinson (MR) in relation to proposal from Government to introduce urgent Bill to close loophole in connection with drink driving cases, 23/06/1993, in relation to legislation re "Somalia Peace Enforcement", 24/06/1993, in relation to referral of two bills to the Supreme Court (The Matrimonial Home Bill, 1993 and The Criminal Law (Public Order) Bill, 1993), 11/10/1993, and in relation to the presentation for signature of the Matrimonial Home Bill, 1993, 23/11/1993; photocopy of correspondence between Patrick Boland, Managing Director, Sonas Publishing Company Ltd., and Joseph Brennan, Deputy Secretary to the President, in which Boland had gifted a photo-painting of MR, and planned, without approval, to include it in "The Sonas Collection", and which was being returned unopened, as the project would "present fundamental difficulties insofar as the Office of the President was concerned", with Brennan noting that should the project proceed, the provision of Section 65 of The Trade Marks Act, 1963 would need to be taken into account, and all publicity and advertising would need to clearly state project had not received approval or been sanctioned by the President, 14/07/1994; photocopy of letter from Harold A Whelan to Taoiseach resigning from the Office of Attorney General following his nomination by the Government for appointment by MR to the Office of President of the High Court, of official statement in Irish from Government advising MR as President to accept his resignation, and photocopy of MR's acceptance of the resignation, 11/11/1994; photocopy of Government press release "Establishment of Constitution Review Group", under chairmanship of Dr TK Whitaker, 27/04/1995; typed document from Dept of the Environment, sent to MR, giving results of the Referendum of 24 November 1995 [15th Amendment Dissolution of Marriage: removed the constitutional prohibition on divorce, and allowed for the dissolution of a marriage provided specified conditions were satisfied], with cover note from Colm Butler noting the Bill had not been presented yet for signature, 14-15/06/1996 [it was signed on 17th]; typed note from PR relating to the Family Law (Divorce) Bill, 1996, giving reasoning behind MR's decision not to consult with the Council of State on it or refer it to the Supreme Court, 22/11/1996; correspondence between MR and Ms Annette O'Connell, Registrar, Tribunal of Inquiry (Dunnes Payments), in which MR responds that she had not personally received any payment from Dunnes Holding Company, and that she had become aware a donation was made to the Labour party for her Presidential campaign, which would need to be queried directly Mr Ruairi Quinn, Director of Elections, 03-11/03/1997.

Ref: P143/4/14/1

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09/07/2024
06/11/2024