Correspondence and other material relating to gifts given and received, and presentations made in 1997 in connection with Mary Robinson (MR)'s presidency, including photograph (removed from frame at some stage) of Michael Collins, presented to MR by Michael Noel Griffin, Chairman, Michael Collins Association, London, on 25/01/1997; typed letter from Paul M Kennedy, Dilworth Professor of History, Director, International Security Studies, New Haven, CT, United States of America (USA), thanking Robinsons for gift of work on Edmund Burke and a caricature [by Nick Robinson?], 13/02/1997; letter from Mr Rory MacLean which accompanied his book "The Oatmeal Ark", with copy of typed response from MR, 18/01-17/02/1997; typed letter from Charley Clarke, Department of Economics, St. John's University, Jamaica, New York, USA, thanking MR for visit to Áras an Uachtaráin (Áras) [official residence of the President of Ireland], and which had accompanied a jar of maple syrup, 28/04/1997; typed letter from Mai O'Brien thanking MR for invite to the May day celebration in Áras, and enclosing a poem she had written for MR, 02/06/1997; handwritten note from Office of the Aide-de-Camp which had accompanied a book which was to be passed on to MR from Ms Lindsey Daly, Caragh N.S. [National School?], and which featured a photograph of MR with Daly's grandfather, 04/06/1997; label in black calligraphy and brass plate, which was originally on a presentation bottle of Columba Cream Liqueur, commemorating the 1400th anniversary of death of Saint Columba [aka Colmcille], and presented to MR at Fionnphort, Isle of Mull, 08/06/1997; "The Great Famine": black plastic folder with pages inserted in each plastic sleeve covering the cartography of the Famine, presented to MR on 14 June 1997 at garden party at Áras by Eoghan Ó Riagáin, and including thank-you letter from MR, 25/04-16/06/1997; letter from Mary O'Rourke, TD, Minister for Public Enterprise, who had served on MR's Council of State, thanking MR for her letter and gift prior to departing Office of the President of Ireland, 02/10/1997.

See also P143/4/13/9.

Ref: P143/4/13/8

Large autograph book in gift box presented to President Mary Robinson by Focus Ireland [Irish charity for the homeless] at opening of Focus Ireland apartment complex at George's Hill and Stanhope Green, which was her last engagement as President, 12/09/1997. Includes artwork of the complex by BJ Noctor, and Mark Simpson and messages from tenants of the complex.

Ref: P143/4/13/9

Correspondence between Kay Gleeson, former Personnel Office while Mary Robison (MR) was President, and MR referring to the transfer of gift items received by MR while president to the Department of the Taoiseach and enclosing copy of the memorandum submitted by the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to the Government at meeting on 23 July 1999, 26/07-19/08/1999.

Ref: P143/4/13/10

Correspondence and other material relating to gifts given and received at some stage during Mary Robinson (MR)'s presidency (1990-1997), including two thank-you cards which had accompanied bouquets of flowers, from Desmond Doherty, and from the trainees in "The Sheltered Workshop", [Carndonagh?]; compliment slip from "all the community Care girls", Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Service for the Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults Community Care Programme, which had accompanied a tapestry made by "Patsy"; handwritten letter from Patricia [Lordan / Gordan?] which had accompanied a painting by her following or during a visit to Kinsale, County (Co.) Cork; photocopy of poem about President Robinson, written by pupils of Athleague National School, Co. Roscommon; two cards with pressed flowers on front, which had accompanied gifts to MR during her visit to Rwanda, from Jeannette Kagame, President of the [Ardec/Ardel?] site and wife of Vice President of Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame and from Kagame family.

Ref: P143/4/13/11

Two handwritten poems by Mairéad Manton "President Mary Robinson" and "Captain Cheshire" in single frame.

Ref: P143/4/13/12

Framed typed prayer "A Prayer for Peace", by Joe Noonan on behalf of Athlone VTOS, no date.

[The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme is a second chance education and training scheme for adults which provides courses of up to two years duration for jobseekers].

Ref: P143/4/13/13

Large framed certificate from Castlebar Urban District Council according President Mary Robinson a civic reception, as "The first Mayo citizen to be elected to the highest office in the Land", signed by Chairman Eamonn Joyce, Vice Chairman [? Egan?] and Town Clerk, John [Condon?], 03/05/1991.

Ref: P143/4/13/14

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

Material relating to the Referendum (Amendment) Bill, 1992 to amend the Constitution to provide for the holding of a referendum, including memo to President Mary Robinson (MR) from Peter Ryan, Secretary to the President, in which he notes he could not see any constitutional implications, and informing MR of when it was most likely to be presented for signature, 18/05/1992, and to MR from Tadhg Ó S[?], Referendum Returning Officer, Department of the Environment, giving results of vote on referendum taken on 18 June 1992, 15/07/1992.

Ref: P143/4/14/2

Typed letter from Mr Myles Tierney, PC, in relation to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill, 1993, in which he shares his concerns about the Bill, includes excerpts from report prepared by the Irish Family Planning Association, and urges President Mary Robinson to refer it to the Supreme Court, with response from Peter Ryan, Secretary to the President, 24-30/06/1993.

Ref: P143/4/14/3