Case relates to retrospective claims following ruling in European Court of Justice in 1988. Ann Carberry claimed she was entitled to receive transitional payments given by the Irish Government after the European Community equality directive on social welfare treatment was implemented in 1986. Case was settled in 1991 but outcome unknown.

Mary Robinson worked as Senior Counsel (SC) on this case. However, once she was inaugurated as President of Ireland on 4th December 1990, it is unlikely she continued as SC. Material is arranged across 2 files.

This file consists of case documents (legal), handwritten case notes and research notes including copy of Notice of Motion, High Court Judicial Review between Theresa Emmott Applicant AND the Minister for Social Welfare and the Attorney General Respondents, 21/07/1988; copy of Affidavit of Theresa Emmott, with attached Exhibits referenced in Affidavit, 28/07/1988; draft Affidavit of Sally Keogh, expert witness in relation to various provisions of Social Welfare Acts [1988?]; copy of Statement, 21/07/1988; Proposed Questions for reference to ECJ [European Court of Justice], with cover fax to David Byrne, S.C. for Respondents, 20/11/1989; copy of Submission of Applicant to High Court to make reference to Court of Justice, [1989/1990?]; transcript [of High Court order?, 1990]; copy of Submissions of Respondents [1989/1990?]; draft Submissions to President and Members of the Court of Justice of the European Communities, 20/09/1990; draft reference and reference to the Court of Justice 12/07/1990; draft legal submissions with notation [1990?].

Material in this file relates to two cases Mary Robinson (MR) was working on simultaneously as Senior Counsel, both of which were v Minister for Social Welfare, and both of which were affected by the judgement in another case: Mrs Cotter & Mrs McDermott v Minister for Social Welfare. It is unclear from the limited documents on file whether this case was settled or went to appeal following the ruling of the Court of Justice in the Cotter & McDermott case. MR is elected President of Ireland prior to date of last correspondence in this file.

It consists of correspondence between MR and Aidan Reynolds, Gallagher Shatter solicitors and The Chief State Solicitor 21/08/1989-28/12/1990 and copies of plenary summons for both Austin & others v Minister of Social Welfare and Harvey & others v Min of Social Welfare, 20/05/1985.

Material in this file consists of correspondence between Mary Robinson and Blake Kenny solicitors, Galway who represented a Garage proprietor in Galway and includes brief, an extract from the Treaty of Accession to the European Economic Community and cover letter requesting her legal opinion (16/12/1982) and reply promising same (21/12/1982). No further documentation.

Kiki Camarena, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agent was kidnapped and murdered by a Mexican drug cartel in 1985. After an investigation, the DEA concluded that Humberto Álvarez-Machaín had participated in the murder. A warrant for his arrest was issued by a federal district court. The DEA, however, was unable to convince Mexico to extradite Álvarez-Machaín, so they hired several Mexican nationals to capture him and bring him back to the United States. His subsequent trial was appealed all the way to the Supreme Court, which found that the government could try a person who had been forcibly abducted, but that the abduction itself might violate international law and provide grounds for a civil suit.

Material includes email printout of correspondence between Harold Koh. Counsel of Record and Professor of International Law, Yale University, Benjamin Hensler, Yale University and Mary Robinson (MR) asking if she would serve as amicus curiae in a brief to be filed in case of Sosa v Alvarez-Machain, 11/02/2004; email print out of correspondence between MR, Koh and (Lord) Anthony Lester, Queen’s Counsel including printed attachment of draft brief 22-23/02/2004; print out of email from Koh to multiple recipients and attached pdf of copy of Brief of Amici Curiae International Jurists in Support of affirmance in Sosa v Alvarez-Machain, 28/02/2004; published Brief "No. 03-339 in the Supreme Court of the United States José Francisco Sosa, Petitioner, v Humberto Alvarez-Machain, Respondent. On Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Brief of Amici Curiae International Jurists in Support of Affirmance", 2004.

MR’s involvement in this case is as one of International Commission of Jurists and was amicus curiae.

Also included in this file is correspondence from Koh to MR in relation to another Amicus brief "Hamdi v Rumsfeld" which MR was happy to join as lead amicus, 18/10/2003-18/02/2004.

Material in this subsubseries relates to cases where Mary Robinson’s involvement was unknown, if it indeed existed.

File consists of letter from Richard Wolfe, City Solicitor, Limerick Corporation to Eleanor McPhillips, Treasurer, Irish Society for the Study and Practice of European Law, outlining problem Corporation had with a meat plant it had erected at considerable cost five years previously which needed to increase its throughput to make it viable but required an export licence which Government decided not to grant, and seeking advice on whether Corporation could challenge Government's decision as being contrary to European Economic Community (EEC) legislation, 19/01/1976; document "Export to EEC Countries of Frozen Carcase Meat", 18/02/1976 which gave advice; letter from Woulfe to Mr Hugh Fitzpatrick, thanking him for information he had sent [possibly copy of document, 18/02/1976?]; newspaper cuttings 18/02/1976.

Unclear from file what Mary Robinson’s involvement was.

Relates to Nic Phaidín's termination from employment at the US Embassy in Dublin, 27/02/1987, and her request to Mary Robinson (MR) in a letter, 10/03/2004, for assistance.

Nic Phaidín alleges she commenced employment at the US Embassy, 09/08/1976 and was dismissed without notice or appropriate compensation on 27/02/1987. In her letter to MR, she states she had attempted to persuade both the US Embassy, and the Minister and Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin to provide an explanation for her dismissal, and that the sole reason given was "security". She also attests that on the day of her dismissal she was questioned at length as to whether she had any links with the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA). Correspondence references her claim that during her employment in the US Embassy, Ballsbridge, she was pinned to a wall and assaulted in 1985. [In 2012 Nic Phaidín lost a High Court case against the Department of Foreign Affairs over her dismissal. Case dismissed as court could do nothing more than express wish that if facts of case were placed before the then US ambassador and embassy officials it would receive proper consideration. Justice Nicholas Kearns noted that the manner of the treatment of Ms Nic Phaidín, who was interrogated before being offered the option of immediate dismissal or resignation from the embassy in Ballsbridge was disgraceful and that “she has felt a burning sense of injustice for many years over the way she was treated by the US embassy. It was a view shared by the Department of Foreign Affairs and I might add it’s a view I hold myself.“]

The file consists of copies of correspondence between Nic Phaidín and Dick Spring 05/08/1998-07/09/1999, between Nic Phaidín and Mary Harney, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, 02/04/2000-08/08/2000, between Nic Phaidín and United States Inspector General and various members of the United States Department of State 18/09/1987-11/05/2001 which also included a print-out of the court decision in a claim she brought before the United States Courts in 1993, between Nic Phaidín and the Embassy of the United States of America (USA) 30/03/1998-01/10/1999, between Nic Phaidín, Ruairí Quinn, Leader of the Labour Party, Raphael V. Siev, Barrister at Law, and friend of Nic Phaidín, and between Quinn and William J. Clinton, President of USA, and His Excellency Michael J Sullivan, Ambassador, Embassy of USA 02/05/2000-27/02/2002, between Nic Phaidín and the Office of the Ombudsman, 29/09/1999-09/11/2000, between Nic Phaidín and the Office of Presidential Correspondence (USA) 31/07/2000-02/01/2001, between Nic Phaidín and Hamid Gaham, Chief, Support Services Branch, United Nations High Commissioner for Human rights 04/09/1998-16/01/2001, between Nic Phaidín and the Human Rights Commission 10/04/2003-15/08/2003, and between Nic Phaidín and the Department of Foreign Affairs 30/03/1998-04/07/2003; letter from Nic Phaidín to Mr. Justice de Valera, the High Court, Dublin 21/07/2003, along with an official duplicate of Plenary Summons between Nic Phaidín, Plaintiff and The Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform, The Garda Commissioner and The Attorney General of Ireland, Plaintiffs, issued on 9/7/2002, stamped 16/06/2003; letter from Nic Phaidín to MR, 10/03/2004.

Nic Phaidín was prolific writer to many she thought could help. Unclear if MR ever got involved.

Material in this subsubseries relates to Mary Robinson's work in the area of family planning legislation and is further subdivided into Family Planning 1970s covering the Family Planning (contraception) Bill and the Health (Family Planning) Bill 1978, the Irish Government's own bill (P143/1/3/1/1), Family Planning 1980s, including material relating to updates to the Family Planning Act, and to the insertion of the 8th amendment, which was inserted in the Irish constitution following a referendum in September 1983 and which by giving the unborn child equal rights to that of the mother, effectively prohibited abortion (P143/1/3/1/2), Family Planning 1990s (P143/1/3/1/3), Parliamentary Debates (P143/1/3/1/4), Government Bills (P143/1/3/1/5), related cuttings (P143/1/3/1/6) and related thesis (P143/1/3/1/7). Material includes correspondence both from those acting in professional capacity and from members of the public, reports, minutes, articles and cuttings.

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