Correspondence mainly to President Mary Robinson (MR) from Peter Ryan (PR), Secretary to the President, including material relating to the fall of the Government in November 1994 (see archivist's note) consisting of copy of text of statement by outgoing Taoiseach Albert Reynolds to Dáil Éireann, 15/11/1994, correspondence between Harold A. Whelehan, and MR relating to his resignation from the Office of President of the High Court and as Judge of that Court (two days after being appointed by Reynolds), and including a statement, 17/11/1994, correspondence from Frank Murray, Secretary to the Government to PR with photocopies of the resignations of members of the Labour party, including Tánaiste Dick Spring, which effectively collapsed the Government, 17/11/1994, photocopies of Taoiseach's resignation letter to MR, 17/11/1994 and photocopy of MR's acceptance of resignations, and correspondence relating to new TDs being nominated to replace those who had resigned, including Bertie Ahern as Tánaiste, 18-21/11/1994; typed memo from PR to MR relating to the need to review protocol attached to the departure of the President on visits abroad and her return, 08/12/1994; note from Brian McCarthy, Assistant Secretary to the Government to PR, noting that copies of correspondence between MR and Heads of State concerning the situation in Rwanda, was going to be placed in the Oireachtas Library, 21-22/12/1994; notes of meeting with Taoiseach [John Bruton], 22/12/1994 covering topics including Northern Ireland and meeting he had had with UK Prime Minister, John Major, MR's wish to address the Houses of the Oireachtas, MR's proposal for Government dinner, various planned visits, and plans to continue meetings between MR and Taoiseach as had happened with his predecessor, Reynolds.

[Archivist's note: In early 1994, Whelehan expressed an interest in becoming President of the High Court and a Judge of the High Court, to which Reynolds gave a personal commitment. This was opposed by Dick Spring, not only due to the quid pro quo nature of the arrangement but also due to Whelehan's controversial role in the X Case, where he was blamed for preventing a 14-year-old girl from traveling to the UK to undergo an abortion. In March 1993, the Royal Ulster Constabulary requested the extradition of Brendan Smyth, a priest arrested for child sex abuse. On 6 October 1994, an edition of UTV's Counterpoint programme revealed that in November 1993, the request was still at the Office of the Attorney General, when the RUC informed the Office that Smyth had voluntarily given himself up in Northern Ireland. The programme suggested this delay was deliberate (possibly in view of Whelehan's conservative beliefs). In response, Whelehan stated he had not known of the case. Reynolds proceeded to appoint Whelehan as President of the High Court. This decision, combined with the Smyth revelations and their earlier opposition to Whelehan, prompted the Labour party to walk out from cabinet. Reynolds requested that Whelehan prepare a memorandum on the Smyth case, which was delivered on 15 November 1994. This claimed the case was the first one to involve section 50 of the Extradition Act 1965. In the Dáil that day, Reynolds summarised the report he had received from Whelehan. On 16th it transpired that there had been a precedent involving another paedophile cleric, John Anthony Duggan, which had been resolved promptly in 1992 by Whelehan. The Labour party withdrew from the government in order to vote no confidence. Reynolds, facing defeat, nevertheless stated he regretted having appointed Whelehan, and criticised his failure to inform the government about the Duggan case, for which Reynolds received backlash. On 18th, Whelehan resigned, stating he wished to "keep the judiciary out of politics", and putting forward his side of events. Reynolds and his Government also resigned but Reynolds stayed on as Taoiseach until 15th December when Fine Gael's John Bruton was appointed in a newly formed Government.]

Ref: P143/4/6/1/5/3

Áras correspondence 1995.

Ref: P143/4/6/1/6

Correspondence mainly to President Mary Robinson (MR) from Peter Ryan (PR), Secretary to the President, including notes on meeting between MR and Taoiseach John Bruton, covering topics such as MR's planned address to the Houses of the Oireachtas, her decision not to accept an honorary award from QUB at that time, but rather to defer "until the anniversary year in the hope that progress would have been made in addressing discriminatory religious and gender practices", and in relation to Northern Ireland and the Framework Document, 09/01/1995; official and personal letter from Taoiseach to MR thanking her for enjoyable dinner at Áras an Uachtaráin [official residence of the President of Ireland] for all Government members and spouses, 19/01/1995; correspondence in relation to Economic and Investment Conference, Washington, May 1995, and the advice to both MR and Taoiseach not to attend since lower level representatives from Ireland, Northern Ireland and UK were attending and US wanted to avoid British or Unionists viewing their attendance as an imbalance of representation, 13-16/02/1995 and material relating to the "New Framework For Agreement - A shared understanding between the British and Irish governments to assist discussion and negotiation involving the Northern Ireland parties", including framework booklet, notes on the meeting of the Liaison Group, 16/02/1995, marked confidential, and confidential notes faxed by Seán O hUiginn, Department of Foreign Affairs to all Irish Missions, 20/02/1995.

Ref: P143/4/6/1/6/1

Correspondence mainly to President Mary Robinson (MR) from Peter Ryan (PR), Secretary to the President, including draft agenda with handwritten notes for MR's meeting with Taoiseach John Bruton, 06/04/1995; correspondence in relation to travel costs of visits and correspondence from Frank Murray, [Secretary to the Government], re Government's approval "on the basis that the foreign travel subhead of the Vote for the President's Establishment for each of the years [1995-1997] be adhered to", 28/03-07/04/1995; correspondence in relation to MR's acceptance of invitation from President Mitterand to attend ceremonies in Paris to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II on 8th of May, including letter from Brian McCarthy, Assistant Secretary to the Government, stating Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) recommended attending, 06/04/1995, and which MR wanted to discuss further with Taoiseach in view of Ireland's traditional neutrality, 24/03-10/04/1995; notes on meeting with Taoiseach which covered topics including VE Day celebrations, United Nations 50th anniversary, Council of State and the new appointee Monica Barnes, relations with the Government, remarks off the record by the Tánaiste about relations with the President which Taoiseach did not approve of, nor ones attributed to Tánaiste which were in media, of guidelines for Ministers on visits abroad which seemed to have been formulated on initiative of Tánaiste but which were being portrayed as coming from President implying she was attempting to gag Ministers who were travelling with her, and the Irish Times (Joe Carroll) interview while MR was in South America and Japan in which she talked (in supportive terms) about the Framework Document (Northern Ireland) but which she was informed was outside of her role, 10/04/1995; memo from Bride Rosney (BR), [Special Adviser to the President], to MR giving timeline of the drafting of the guidelines, and the issues of misinformation in the media, 10/04/1995; memo from BR/Ann Lane on note BR received from Mark Mullen of ECO, outlining what had taken place in Kibeho camp and how it had hurt the whole process of repatriation, 02/05/1995; note from meeting between Taoiseach and President Havel of the Czech Republic, Moscow, 9th May, covering topics such as European integration, a Charter for Europe, enlargement, bilateral relations, Russia and NATO, exchange of visits, N[iall] Dorr, Secretary DFA, 11/05/1995; note from PR on additional security arrangements envisaged for visit of Prince of Wales to Áras an Uachtaráin [official residence of President of Ireland], 29/05/1995.

Ref: P143/4/6/1/6/2

Correspondence mainly to President Mary Robinson (MR) from Peter Ryan (PR), Secretary to the President, including note from John [?] that Lt Col at Baldonnel was highest ranking Aer Corps Officer in State at time of unreferenced trip, that the Europa Hotel [Belfast, Northern Ireland], had apologised for flying no flag during visit, and attaching text of speech given by Dr Martin Mansergh, Head of Research, Fianna Fáil, to the Parnell Society on the Peace Process in Historical Perspective, at their Spring Day, Avondale, Co. Wicklow, on 22nd April, June 1995; briefing note for and notes on meeting between MR and Taoiseach John Bruton, 12th June, covering topics including recent visits by MR to European Union (EU) and United States of America (USA), progress in the peace process, Northern Ireland, and the hopes Sinn Féin might decommission weapons, United Nations (UN) 50th commemoration Special Assembly and who should attend, the success of the visit of the Prince of Wales and the forthcoming reception in October to mark 150th anniversary of the Queens Colleges at which both MR and Queen Elizabeth II were attending, and to weekly briefings MR was getting from the Department of Foreign Affairs, 12/06/1995; record of meeting between MR and Brian McKeown, head of the EU monitoring group [in Rwanda], 12/06/1995; briefing notes for and notes on meeting between MR and Taoiseach on 30th August covering topics including developments in Northern Ireland, divorce referendum, Taoiseach's visit to Canada, MR's visit to UN, USA and London, and the proposed increase in the bounty given to citizens on reaching 100 years ("Centenarians Bounty"), 28-30/08/1995; correspondence re invite from UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, to MR to attend a Special Commemorative Session of the UN General Assembly in October, and PR requesting advice from Brian McCarthy, Assistant Secretary to the Government, 20/07-07/09/1995; briefing note for and notes on meeting between MR and Taoiseach on 19th September, covering topics including Rwanda and the region and MR's proposed humanitarian visit, recent talks between the Taoiseach and Loyalists groups in Northern Ireland and his visit to Canada, 14-19/09/1995; notes on meeting with Taoiseach on 15th at which he briefed MR on progress in Northern Ireland talks, 15/11/1995; notes on phone call with Taoiseach on 30th November, relating to situation in Northern Ireland, in which MR congratulated him and Government on getting an agreed communiqué and on providing context for breaking log-jam, especially before visit of President Clinton (USA) and MR's handwritten notes of call.

Ref: P143/4/6/1/6/3

Áras correspondence 1996.

Ref: P143/4/6/1/7

Correspondence mainly to President Mary Robinson (MR) from Peter Ryan (PR), Secretary to the President, including briefing notes for and notes of meeting between MR and Taoiseach John Bruton, on 5th of February, which covered topics including talks in Northern Ireland, visits abroad which took into account the pressures on the Government in the second half of 1996 due to their presidency of the EU [European Union] and were therefore mainly in first half of 1996, and the issues around the EMU [Economic Monetary Unit], 05/02/1996; notes on meeting with Taoiseach while he was in Áras an Uachtaráin [official residence of the President of Ireland] for another function, to get update on Northern Ireland, including MR's own notes, 15/04/1996; notes on briefing with Taoiseach on Northern Ireland which was requested by MR, 31/05/1996; notes on telephone call between MR and President Nelson Mandela, which PR forwarded to Frank Murray (FM), Secretary to the Government, in which Mandela shared difficulties South Africa were having in education and asked for assistance in retraining of teachers, which MR vowed to pass on to Taoiseach, 31/05-01/06/1996; briefing on EMU and the Irish presidency of the EU, which MR had requested, which was forwarded by FM to Colm Butler, Deputy Secretary to MR, 07/06/1996; photocopy of faxed briefing update on the humanitarian situation in the Great Lakes Region, sent to PR from Barbara Jones, Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs, 10/06/1996; material relating to rumours MR was being considered for post of Secretary General of the United Nations, including queries from Andy Hill, Chief Correspondence, Reuters Ireland, and response from PR stating MR was not a candidate (20/06/1996), photocopies of French press coverage listing MR as first place among "the most outstanding potential candidates" (21/06/1996), article in German paper and translation sent from Embassy of Ireland, Germany (26/06/1996), and two reports of conversations in which the possibility came up, sent by Ted Barrington, Ambassador, Irish Embassy, London (28/06/1996), 20-28/06/1996; correspondence from Ambassador Barrington to Seán O hUiginn, Second Secretary, Anglo-Irish division, Department of Foreign Affairs (25/06/1996), and notes of subsequent phone call from Barrington to PR relating to MR's proposed visit to Manchester following recent bombings, (26/06/1996); notes on meeting with Taoiseach on 6th July, where topics covered included her report on her visit to Manchester, briefings on the Drumcree "stand-off" which was in its second day, and reference to her attendance at a Heritage concert in Cashel, which Taoiseach was also attending, 11/07/1996; photocopy of faxed update received from CONCERN's Dominic MacSorley, Country Director in Rwanda, via Jack Finucane, Regional Director, The Horn and Central Africa, 23/08/1996.

Ref: P143/4/6/1/7/1

Correspondence mainly to President Mary Robinson (MR) from Peter Ryan (PR), Secretary to the President, including copy of brief prepared for Taoiseach's meeting on Special European Council (5th October), and informal notes by officials at the meeting, which Frank Murray, Secretary to the Government, sent to PR for MR's attention, 05-09/10/1996; letter from Joan Burton, TD, Minister for State relating to the establishment of an informal Presidency group involving representatives of the fifteen Member States, to formulate a common EU [European Union] position on United Nations reform in the economic and social fields, and enclosing two papers, 03-11/10/1996; notes re phone call from John Kennedy, to convey message from Sean Donlon, Taoiseach's Programme Manager, in relation to "terrible reservations regarding the security" for MR's visit to Belfast on 23 October, 08/10/1996; briefing notes for and notes of meeting with Taoiseach on 16th October, covering topics including progress in talks in Northern Ireland, and MR's visit over the summer, Ireland's presidency of the EU, and matters relating to Irish beef possibly being banned from Russia due to rise of incidences of BSE [Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as Mad Cow disease], 14-16/10/1996; correspondence between John Burke, Assistant Secretary and Chief of Protocol, Department of Foreign Affairs, Brian McCarthy, Frank Murray, Pat O'Sullivan, Protocol Section, and PR relating to proposed visits for 1997, and the addition of the Czech Republic to the list following a personal invitation from President Havel to MR, 7-18/11/1996.

Ref: P143/4/6/1/7/2

Áras correspondence 1997.

Ref: P143/4/6/1/8

Material relating to (a) MR's decision and announcement she was not seeking second term as President of Ireland, and (b) whether she was being considered for the role of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), whether she should put her name forward, and how this related to her decision not to seek second term. It includes photocopied fax from Niall H[?], Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations (PMUN), to Bride Rosney (BR), Special Adviser to the President, regarding the position of High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR), including that nominations or expressions of interest needed to be submitted soon to the Secretary General (of United Nations) generally by Governments or sometimes NGOs, and listing other names being discussed informally as possible candidates with some background comments on them (Ibrahim Fall, Lakhdar Brahimi) and on relationship with outgoing UNHCHR, Ayala Lasso, 21/02/1997; notes from BR to MR following phone call with Donal Denham (PMUN) including in relation to how candidacy should be played if it is being considered, noting several ambassadors had mentioned to [Ambassador] Ann Anderson that MR should put her name forward, giving background on structure under HCHR and vacant posts, noting need for MR to "clear the lines" with the Irish Government as a priority and ending "the strong word is out in the DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs] that this might be of interest and Handle with Care is plastered all over it", 24/02/1997; note from BR to MR giving her opinion on various courses of action to consider, ramifications of each, and noting her instinct was that MR should make a decision first on the Presidency, [02]/1997; background information on office of HCHR from Ambassador Anderson, via Donal Denham (DD) including correspondence between her and outgoing commissioner Lasso and internally within the PMUN on restructuring of Centre for Human Rights and on vacant posts being advertised internally, for which her Deputy DD was applying, 17/06/1996-24/02/1997; photocopy of fax from Niall H to BR noting timing of appointment partially depended on whether Lasso actually departed on 15 March as scheduled, and whether Ibrahim Fall, Director of the Centre for Human Rights, would transfer to New York as Assistant Secretary General on 8th March, 24/02/1997; note from BR to MR re phone call received from John Swift which gave his opinion on Lasso's time as HCHR, the "disaster" in having both Lasso and the number 2 (Fall) reporting separately to BBG [Boutros Boutros-Ghali], and the fact the new Secretary General would have very strong views on who Lasso's successor should be, 24/02/1997; print out of email from Inez McCormack to BR in which McCormack gives her opinion on MR going for HCHR role "it's exciting to even put it down on paper", 25/02/1997; note from BR to MR re conversation with Ambassador Sahnoun, during which she confidentially raised issue of role and possibility of MR going for it, to which he reacted positively, offering to raise matter with Secretary General, 26/02/1997; fax (photocopied) of African Charter on Human and People's Rights, 25/02/1997; note from BR re conversation with Sahnoun in relation to MR's possible visit to Rwanda, and interest in HCHR role, but noting MR had not spoken to Irish Government about her "current thinking", 26/02/1997; faxed document on HC / Centre for Human Rights Field Activities Financial situation, as at 28/01/1997, sent from PMUN, 26/02/1997; fax from Niall H confirming Fall was moving to New York in March, 27/02/1997; note from BR re phone call from Mark Brannock (Irish Times) who was ringing "about the UN job mark 2", and who mentioned that "several seasoned UN watchers in New York and two specifically" had told him MR would be the leading candidate if she allowed her name to go forward and that sources were saying time was right for Western Candidate "who is not backed by the West” (i.e. US or UK), 27/02/1997; note from BR re phone call from Barbara Jones which included mention of HC post, and suggesting MR "avoid contact with AA [Ann Anderson?] - everything goes back to Iveagh House" and recommending she talk with DD and Sahnoun instead, 27/02/1997; fax from Anderson, PMUN, enclosing statement announcing UN Secretary General's decision to appoint ad-interim Ralph Zacklin, as Officer-in-Charge of the Centre for Human Rights during selection process of HCHR, 27/02/1997; fax from Niall H noting Elizabeth Rehn, Finland had emerged as likely candidate along with notes on other potential candidates, 04/03/1997; note from BR re phone call from Sahnoun reporting Secretary General's reaction [to MR's interest in role] was "very good", 10/03/1997; notes from Peter Ryan (PR) to BR in relation to "notifications" and timetable of events for MR's announcement she was not seeking second term, 11/03/1997; note from PR to MR relating to conversation between Taoiseach and Tánaiste who had offered every assistance and support (for MR's candidacy for UN role), 14/03/1997; note from MR to BR relating to who might act as an emissary [in broaching subject of MR's candidacy to UN Secretary General on behalf of Irish Government], 14/03/1997; CV for MR, Jan 1997; drafts for MR's announcement in relation to not seeking a second term as President of Ireland, and the official statement from MR, Áras an Uachtaráin made on 12th March.

Ref: P143/4/6/1/8/1