Material in this file includes correspondence between those working in a professional capacity and includes letter from Garret Fitzgerald, TD [Teachta Dála; member of Irish parliament] to Senator Mary Robinson (MR) referencing upcoming Bill, giving advice on what should be clearly established or included in an amendment to give Bill hope of success and finishing with "The Government must be having kittens! You have really put them on the spot!", 05/03/1971; letter from Joseph O'Malley, Editor, This Week magazine, attaching galley proof of responses to poll conducted by them relating to issues of divorce and contraception and seeking comment from MR, 16/06/1971; correspondence between MR and Dr AEB de Courcy-Wheeler in relation to motion he planned to propose at the Medical Union's AGM instructing its representatives to add their voice to those bodies endeavouring to obtain a repeal of law which prohibited sale of contraceptive devices, 18/06-19/09/1973; correspondence between MR and Joan M Wilson, Irish Family Planning Association in relation to Sub-Committee they were setting up to advise on framing resolution defining the Association's attitude towards abortion, and inviting her to sit on it 21/05-16/07/1973; correspondence between Charles McManus, Secretary, Central Branch, Fine Gael [political party] and MR in relation to meeting to discuss amendment of the laws relating to contraception which she was invited to address but could not attend 28-29/10/1973; copy of letter from MR to Michael Kilroy, Clerk Assistant of the Senate, Seanad Éireann, returning copy of the Family Planning Bill 1973, signed by her, Senator John Horgan and Senator Trevor West, and thanking Kilroy for his work, 29/10/1973; letter to MR from Justin Keating, Minister for Industry and Commerce, stating he would support Bill, 06/11/1973; letter from MR to Jack Lynch, TD which accompanied a copy of the Bill signed by her, West and Horgan and seeking his support, with reply from Lynch promising to examine it, 01-06/11/1973; correspondence between Trevor West and MR relating to amendments to Bill, which switched emphasis away from Minister for Justice and gave Minister for Health powers to regulate, and possibility of alternative Government Bill being presented, 07-12/11/1973; letter from MR to Reverend Dr Ryan, Archbishop of Dublin, which accompanied copy of Bill, and acknowledgement of receipt from his secretary, James Ardle MacMahon, 06-13/11/1973; correspondence between MR and a number of politicians seeking support for the Bill including Mr Cosgrave, Taoiseach [Irish Prime Minister], Senator Alexis Fitzgerald, Michael O'Kennedy, TD, Senator Michael O'Higgins, Brendan Corish, Tánaiste [Irish Deputy Prime Minister], Patrick Cooney, Minister for Justice, and Justin Keating, Minister for Industry and Commerce, 29/10-02/11/1973; letter to MR from James T Lonergan, Irish Family Planning Association, enclosing paper he presented at a public meeting "Amendment of Irish Laws relating to Contraception", 23/11/1973; correspondence between MR and several members of clergy in relation to the Bill including Catherine McGuinness, Assistant Secretary, Dublin Council of Churches (15/12/1971), WT McDowdell, Clerk of the Presbytery, Presbyterian Church in Ireland (06/12/1973), and Father James Good (09-11/12/1973) which referenced that MR was due to give birth before Christmas, Kenneth Milne, Joint Honorary Secretary, The General Synod, Church of Ireland (01-06/02/1974), Rev RR Davey, Director, the Corrymeela Community [composed of individuals (lay and clerical) from all the major Irish Churches] in reference to a motion of support for the Bill (04-06/2/1974), Rev AJ Weir, Presbyterian Church of Ireland, Belfast (04-08/02/1974), Michael C Taylor, Clerk, Dublin Monthly Meeting of Religious Society of Friends (15/02/1974); correspondence between MR and IPPF Europe [International Planned Parenthood Federation Europe Region] in relation to a working group they had invited her to participate in which would discuss a survey of the legal status of contraception, sterilisation and abortion in European countries, and which she had declined due to work commitments, 06/12/1973-26/02/1974; correspondence between MR and Noel Reilly, Secretary, Irish Medical Association (IMA), and David Nowlan, Medical Correspondence, The Irish Times in relation to resolution passed by IMA 22-29/01/1974; correspondence between Dr Michael Solomons and MR including papers he wrote on Family Planning 04/12/1973-21/10/1974; correspondence between Robert Cochran, Secretary, Family Planning Services, Dublin 2, and MR 05-31/01/1974 in relation to amendments he was suggesting to the Family Planning Bill, 1973; letter from Senator Alexis Fitzgerald to MR asking for copy of statement MR made dealing with criticism of the Bill, and asking for her views on the Civil Rights aspect, 05-08/02/1974; correspondence between MR and Phyllis T Piotrow, Editor, the Victor-Bostrom Fund Committee, 10/01-05/03/1974, relating to MR's work on contraception legalisation and reports from the Committee; correspondence between MR and Edgar M Deale, Honorary Secretary, Irish Association of Civil Liberty, 19/02-06/03/1974 relating to statement Association made on family planning which referenced the Bill; copy of letter sent by MR to Editor of Irish Times, commenting on delay of Minister for Justice in introducing Government Bill on Family Planning, she says "The credibility gap yawns: so, too do we all", 14/03/1974; letter from Senator Trevor West to MR commenting on Government's Bill which was as they suspected and restricted sale of contraceptives to married couples via pharmacies, 22/03/1974; letters from David Andrews, TD and Seán O'Brien, Secretary for Richard Burke, TD, Minister for Education, acknowledging receipt of copy of Family Planning Bill, 1974, 03-09/12/1974; correspondence between MR and Dr Eimer Bowman relating to paper Bowman delivered at the Annual Conference of the Psychological Society of Ireland, a copy of which she enclosed, "The Sexual Behaviour and Contraceptive Practice of Young People", 04-09/12/1975

Material in this file includes copies of typed minutes, agendas, accounts and circulars of the Irish Family Planning Association 18/04/1973-12/06/1975; draft statement on Family Planning Bill 1973 with notes, [1973?]; typed copy of comment by Senator Mary Robinson (MR) on statement by Catholic Hierarchy, 27/11/1973; typed copy of comments of MR on Government Bill, [02/1974?]; copy of reply to Debate on Family Planning Bill [in Seanad Éireann, Ireland’s upper house of parliament?] and list of senators who spoke, [1974?].

Material in this file includes photocopies of flyer of letter from John Charles [McQuaid], Archbishop of Dublin, Primate of Ireland, to "Very Reverend And Dear Father", 22/03/1971 on topic of "planned" parenthood; The Victor-Bostrom Fund for the International Planned Parenthood Federation Report No 16, Winter 1972-73, "Commercial Distribution of Contraceptives", and report No 18, Spring 1974 "Family Planning: Improving Opportunities for Women”; "Manual of Family Planning", Dr Eleanor Mears, Syntex Information Service for the medical and allied professions, July 1973; photocopy of report "Pulmonary Embolism and Maternal Mortality 1966-1973", Mary Henry, MD [Doctor of Medicine], Rotunda Hospital, Dublin and Varicose Veins Research Department, Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital, 197[3/4?]; article in Irish Times by Father James Good examining the contraception debate on the 5th anniversary of the encyclical, 25/07/1973; article by Dr JT Loughran, Chairman Family Planning Clinic, Mountjoy Square, Dublin, "Amendment of Irish Laws Relating to Contraception", 15/11/1973; article by Dr Michael Solomons "Dublin's first Family Planning Clinic", 197[3/7?]; "The Effects on Families of Putting ‘Anti-Contraception’ Doctrine into Practice", private study on substance of paper presented to the Meeting of the Commission for International Justice and Peace of the Episcopal Conference of England and Wales, 13/07/1969; "The Law as it Affects Family Planning in England and Wales", photocopy of report, signed Tom Courtney, n.d.; Howth Parish newsletter, 10/02/1974 with editorial on contraception, theology and role of priest; booklet and other material relating to Catholic Bishops of England and Wales speaking on world population in 1974; poster for Milltown Institute of theology and Philosophy Public Lectures, Spring 1974; Official Report Dáil Éireann [lower house of Irish parliament] Parliamentary Debates, including in relation to "Control of Importation, Sale and Manufacture of Contraceptives Bill, 1974: First Stage"; several guides published by The Irish Family Planning Association including "A Simple Guide to Contraception and Fertility", March 1975, "Family Planning - A Guide for Parents and Prospective Parents", [1975?], "The Pill", [1975?], and the IFPA Annual report for 1975; pilot issue of IFPA newsletter, [1975?]; flyers "Demand Free Legal Contraception" sent to MR from two separate members of Irishwomen United, 15-16/12/1975.

Material in this file includes correspondence between those working in a professional capacity and includes correspondence between Mary Robinson (MR) and Ms Eimer Bowman in relation to a paper Bowman enclosed by Dermot Walsh on Irish abortion statistics, and an off-print of Bowman's article on single attendance at a Dublin family planning clinic 13/01/1976-01/11/1977; correspondence between MR and Elizabeth Bresnihan, Secretary ICAP [Irish Contraception Programme] in relation to the organisation being set up to launch a national campaign to change the laws on contraception in Ireland, the first activity being to launch a national petition and requesting MR be a sponsor, and with Susan Dipper, CAP asking her to speak at an event in November 25/08-04/11/1976; correspondence between MR and Bernard McGuire and Moira Jones, Ballina Family Planning Clinic Support Group in relation to invite to attend public meeting, which she was unavailable to attend, and copies of the groups appeal letter 04-08/02/1977; letter (circular?) from MR clarifying position of herself, Senator John Horgan and Labour party on whether they were proceeding with the Family Planning Bill 1974, 30/03/1977.

Material in this file includes copies of typed minutes, agendas, accounts and circulars of the Irish Family Planning Association March 1976-06/09/1979; circular from Galway Family Planning Association, 25/03/1976 relating to seminar on family planning taking place in Galway, the following month; circular sent by Maureen Cronin on behalf of the Contraceptive Workshop, Irish Women United enclosing a copy of a letter sent to the national press calling for a "national campaign to win changes in the law", 20/05/1976; copy of typed statement by Mary Robinson at press conference to launch public campaign to change laws on contraception in Ireland, 18/10/1976; handwritten notes on a draft motion in Seanad Éireann (no details); draft typed points on "Health (Family Planning) Bill 1978".

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.