Courts Act, 1982 (Private Members Bill)
Material in this file relates to the Courts Act, 1982 (Private Members Bill) which sought to introduce an Act to amend the Courts Bill, 1981, by postponing for a further 12 months the coming into operation of certain sections of that Bill which proposed to transfer jurisdiction in important areas of family law from the High Court to the District and Circuit Courts. It was drafted by Mary Robinson (MR) and introduced by Labour Leader Dick Spring in order to give time for the District and Circuit Courts to become better equipped to handle these cases as well as the opportunity to consider whether this was best course of action. The Government was also being called on to allocate time in the Dáil for discussion of the bill.

The file includes photocopy of Courts (Amendment) Bill, 1982 Arrangement in Sections; photocopy of circular from MR on the need for urgent consideration of the Bill before 12th May 1982, with copy of Courts Bill 1982 which she drafted, 30/04/1982; press release from Cherish [Irish Association of Single Parents] and circular from its chairperson, Mary Liddy, to members of the Dáil Éireann [lower house of Irish parliament], expressing concern that the decision to transfer jurisdiction would give rise to difficulties in the area of family law, calling on the government to allow time for the deferment to be discussed and expressing hope that a deferment would reopen the possibility of establishing family courts with proper facilities, 01/05/1982; letter on behalf of Brendan Allen, President, The Incorporated Law Society of Ireland, to MR, regretting that he could not support her amendment either privately or publicly, 04/05/1982; correspondence from Clara Clarke, Organising Secretary, Council for the Status of Women, including their press release calling on the Government to allocate time for discussion on Courts Bill 1982, 04/05/1982 and replies from various TDs [Teachta Dála, member of Dáil Éireann] to MR who had sent the press release to them, 04-11/05/1982; letter from AIM [Action Information Motivation] Group to the Letters Editor [National press?], relating to their concern that women seeking Protection or Barring orders were being turned away due to family law-related summonses not being served in many District and Circuit Courts, 19/05/1982; letter from Kathleen Chandler for Mary Liddy, listing TDs who had responded to press release being sent to them, 25/05/1982; cuttings 05-20/05/1982.

In 1973 a group of feminists, chaired by Hilda Tweedy of the Irish Housewives Association, set up the Council for the Status of Women (CSW), with the goal of gaining equality for women. It was an umbrella body for women's groups. During the 1990s the council's activities included supporting projects funded by the European Social Fund and running Women and Leadership Programmes and forums. In 1995, following a strategic review, it changed its name to the National Women's Council of Ireland.

This file consists of correspondence between Mary Robinson (MR) and the CSW, agendas, reports and a newsletter. It includes a copy of the "Women and the Law" report sent by Ita Gannon, Governor, Women and the Law, 19/11/1980; correspondence from Margaret Walsh, Chairwoman, CSW, 31/01/1984 relating to a report "Who Cares about the Carers?" which was not included; correspondence between MR and Caroline McCamley, Chairwoman CSW, seeking advice on financial and other matters 08/10/1986-07/09/1987; correspondence relating to a request from Lady Carew for the CSW to look at taking a test case, and MR's recommendation they not become involved in family case being heard in courts 04/09/1986-26/03/1987 (no case details included); agenda for CSW Council meeting, 06/06/1987; letter from Daphne Passmore, Chairwoman, Health Committee, CSW, re launch of report on proceedings of Women's health conference held earlier in 1987, 12/09/1987; booklet "Regional Women - the forgotten Women", proceedings of the CSW's conference, Limerick, 12/1986; CSW Annual Report, 1986; newsletter Autumn/Winter 1988.

Typed copies and drafts of keynote speeches and contributions by Senator Mary Robinson (MR), 1973-1987, at various conferences and events which related to women, equality, and the law. They include "Equality for Women", contribution on discussion paper of ITGWU [Irish Trade and General Workers' Union] at annual delegate conference, 29/05/1980; summary of contribution by MR "the Contribution of Women Graduates to society", at meeting of Dublin University Women Graduates, Trinity College Dublin, 04/11/1980; summary of contribution by MR "Young Women and Employment", European Youth Forum, 03/12/1980; statement on annual report of Employment Equality Agency, 05/01/1982; summary of contribution by MR "Women in Europe - the Socialist Approach", Mansion House, Dublin, 23/03/1984 and public meeting in support of Michael D Higgins, Atlanta Hotel, Galway, 09/06/1984; 10th Countess Markievicz Memorial Lecture, "Women, Work and Equality", 198[5?]; summary of speech "Labour Women in Dublin", given by MR at Labour press conference, 09/06/1985; summary of contribution by MR, "Women and Parliament", Merriman Summer School, 24/08/1985; summary and drafts of keynote speech by MR, "Women and the Law in Ireland" at seminar organised by UCD Women's Studies forum, 02/05/1986, another version of same speech given at Women's Worlds Conference, 01/07/1987 and correspondence between MR and Ailbhe Smyth, WERRC [Women's Education Research Resource Centre], University College Dublin in relation to a copy of speech being published in a Reader of Irish Women's Studies, 30/12/1992-11/01/1993; typed document "Women and 1992" and outline of lecture by MR "Equal Pay and Equal treatment - Analysis of Recent case Law of ECJ [European Court of Justice] and National Courts, 19[8?].

Material relating to the Youth Forum of the European Communities event "Hearing on Employment of Young Women", Brussels, 02-04/12/1980, at which Mary Robinson (MR) agreed to participate, including circular relating to preparations ahead of the hearing, 19-22/09/1980; correspondence from Gilbert Véron, Secretary General of the Youth Forum to MR re arrangements 13/11/1980; programme for the event in English and photocopy of bilingual programme in French and English; conclusions (report) of the event; booklet about the Youth Forum, 08/1979; European Communities European Parliament Working Documents (1979-1980) report drawn up on behalf of the Committee on Social Affairs, employment and Education on the activities of the European Youth Forum, 07/05/1979; Youth Forum General Assembly 22-24/11/1979, report of activities 1979; research material relating to AnCo [An Comhairle Oiliúna (the Industrial Training Authority)]'s training programmes and schemes for girls and women, 11/1980; proceedings of 5th annual conference of Sociological Association of Ireland article on "The Economic Dependence of Women in Ireland", Joy Rudd, 7-9/04/1979.

Paper "Education for Domestication or Development", Eileen Drew, Systems Development Programme, Trinity College, Dublin from conference on "Women in the Developing World", 28/04/1984, sent by Eileen to Mary Robinson (MR) with cover slip; work-in-progress paper "Joint Labour Committees and Equal Pay: a case for the European Court of Justice?", Padraic Doyle, November 1984, with cover letter from Ferdinand von Prondzynski, University of Dublin [Trinity College Dublin, TCD], about a seminar on same subject led by Doyle (research student), taking place at TCD, 14/11/1984; 1987 report "In the Law of the Father: report of a Seminar on Woman and the Law", UCD [University College Dublin] Women's Studies Forum, 1987, and cover letter from Ailbhe Smyth, Department of French, UCD requesting copy of MR's keynote speech at Women's World Congress, with reply from MR, 11-27/08/1987; flyer from Family Lawyers Association giving notice of seminar "Judicial Separation and Family Law reform Act. 1989" taking place 12/07/1989.

Flyers, press releases and research material including statement from Women's Aid expressing horror that Judge Barrington had suspended the sentence of man charged with murder of a 61 year old woman, for one year and his remarks that had the defendant not being drinking the crime would not have happened, 06/05/1982; various flyers issued by Minister of State for Women's Affairs 198[5?]; press statement by President of ICTU [Irish Congress of Trade Unions], Jim McCusker at launch of new Charter of Rights for Women, with copy of charter, 30/08/1985; copy of schedule of court sittings, 03/198[?]; various article on family law including from The Incorporated Law Society of Ireland and photocopies of law journals, 1984; Attic Press catalogue 1988 [wholly Irish owned and controlled women's publishing house]; circular from Committee on the Administration of Justice, the Northern Ireland Civil Liberties Council, 15/02/1989, attached to Briefing Paper on the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Bill, 02/1979, summary from British Embassy, Dublin, 25/05/1988 and White Paper on Fair Employment in Northern Ireland, presented to (UK) Parliament by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, 05/1988.

Material in this file relates to Women's Aid, an organisation whose aim was to provide advice, support and accommodation for women and children who were being physically, emotionally or sexually abused in their own home.

It includes release of speech by Mary Robinson at launch of awareness campaign, 06/06/1990, including campaign leaflet, correspondence inviting her to launch, and handwritten notes used for speech, 14-10/06/1990; Women's Aid folder containing material relating to UN World Conference on Human Rights Vienna 15 June 1993, "Global Tribunal on Violations of Women's Human Rights".

In 1973 a group of feminists, chaired by Hilda Tweedy of the Irish Housewives Association, set up the Council for the Status of Women (CSW), with the goal of gaining equality for women. It was an umbrella body for women's groups. During the 1990s the council's activities included supporting projects funded by the European Social Fund, and running Women and Leadership Programmes and forums. In 1995, following a strategic review, it changed its name to the National Women's Council of Ireland.

This file consists of correspondence, submissions and reports relating to the work of the CSW. Material includes folder labelled "Sexual Harassment" consisting of press release from CSW calling for coordinated action on European Community resolution on Sexual Harassment (05/07/1990), flyer and press release regarding Win For Change's events on Women's Day 08/03/1990 [group seeking greater justice, equality and unbiased media coverage], and research material regarding sexual harassment in Employment and various approaches to employment equality and legalisation against harassment (19[8?]-199[?]); press release announcing launch of initiative on women and sport, by CSW Chairwoman Frances Fitzgerald, with CSW's 1989 Annual report, 02/08/1990; report "Don't Let Life Be A Drag" from one day CSW seminar on young women and smoking, 199[1?]; submission from WIG [Women in Golf] to Commission on the Status of Women, 03/1991; submission to the Commission on the Status of Women by the CSW, March 1991 with cover letter from Frances Fitzgerald, to MR, and reply from Ann Lane on her behalf, 22-30/04/1991; report "Leadership & Women from Participation to Partnership The Challenge of the 1990s" Council for the Status of Women, with cover letter from Frances Fitzgerald to MR, and reply from Ann Lane on her behalf, 01-07/10/1991; copy of submission to 2nd Commission on the Status of Women by Dublin Lesbian Line Collective (Eileen, Ger, Paula, Suzanne, Eemer, Teresa, Jenny - note no last names and some fake names), March 1991, with cover letter to President Robinson from Geraldine Moane thanking her for inviting group of lesbians and gay men to Áras an Uachtaráin previous Sunday, and reply from Ann Lane on her behalf, 17-22/12/1992; submission to 2nd Commission from ATGWU [Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union] with cover letter from Avila Kilmurray, Regional Women's Organiser to President Robinson, and from Ann Lane on her behalf, 25/09-01/10/1991; photocopy of submission to 2nd Commission from The Catholic Women's Federation, 199[1?]; handwritten and typed notes on Status of Women report (no report in folder), 199[1/2?].

Correspondence, newsletters, journals, flyers, cuttings and other material relating to the WPA [Women's Political Association] including January newsletter 1990; circular regarding first meeting of 1990, March 1990; material relating to WPA meeting 09/05/1990 celebrating Schuman Day including invite to Mary Robinson (MR) to address meeting from Frances Gardiner, 28/04/1990, notes, drafts and summary of MR's address "Local Democracy in the Context of European Unity" along with several cuttings possibly used for research (04-26/04/1990), copy of address given by Christoffer Bertelsen, Counsellor, Royal Danish Embassy at same event, with cover letter from him to MR and reply from Ann Lane on her behalf, 08-14/06/1990; poster for WPA talk "Woman Priests - the Future Church?" with guest speakers Rev Elizabeth Franz (Lutheran priest) and Carol Walsh (Methodist minister), 27/06/1990; 2 copies of WPA Annual Journal 1990 with official press photograph of President MR on cover; Annual Journal, Dublin Branch 1991; WPA newsletter January 1992; poster for Public Meeting "Do We Need A Women's Political Party?", 22/01/1992; letter from Peg [?] to Bride Rosney, which referenced the 1992 journal for which MR made Presidential contribution, 09/11/1992.

Photocopy of article "Equality, Development and Peace: Needs for the Advancement of Women", Juliette C. McLennan, United States Department of State Bureau of Public Affairs, March 1990; Equality News, EEA [Employment Equality Agency] newsletter 10/1990; report "Equality of Opportunity in the Civil Service 1990", 4th annual report on the implementation of the Equal Opportunity Policy and Guidelines for the Civil Service; reprint order form for Women's Studies International Forum Vol 11 No 2 with Mary Robinson (MR) listed as First Named Author, with cover slip from Ailbhe [Smyth], Department of French, University College Dublin, thanking her for her contribution to the journal, 25/05/199[?]; folder "Charter 88" consisting of flyers, brochures and other material related to the organisation seeking constitutional change in the UK and in Europe, and includes pictorial guide to the Constitutional convention "Towards a Written Constitution", 01-03/11/1991, and paper by Elizabeth Meehan, Queen's University, Belfast for Charter 88 "Women's Rights in Citizens' Europe", 01/11/1991-8/11/1992; CPSU [Civil and Public Service Union] folder, "Working for Equality", of pamphlets on various workers' rights 199[?]; report "The Ruhama Women's Project" 2nd annual report 1991 with cover letter from Sr Jennifer McAleer to President MR and reply from Ann Lane on her behalf, 08-23/03/1992.