General reports, brochures, newsletters and booklets including "The Regulation of Birth" - Encyclical Letter of Pope Paul VI "Humanae Vita", London Catholic Truth Society, 1968, booklet "Anglican Reflections on Humanae Vitae, by Norman RC Dockeray, July 1970, and two copies of booklet "Facing Up to 'Humanae Vitae', by a Catholic Mother, 1971; "The Pill Compendium for 1970"; YLM bulletin, 03/1971; flyer "Catholics and Family Planning", 197[?]; flyer for Christus Rex 1971 congress, Bundoran, 12-15/04/1971 "The Family To-day"; booklet "The Ovulation Method of Natural Family Planning", compiled by Ovulation Method Advisory Service, Cork, 197[?]; booklet "Irish Family Planning Rights Association News No ", [1971?]; booklet "Planning With Discretion - a simple guide to conception control", Syntex Information Service, Maidenhead, England, 09/1972; pamphlet "The Reasons Why Married Sexuality Past History Present Problem", Patrick A Baggot, SJ [Society of Jesus, Jesuit], 11/1972; abstract of Dr Michael Solomons' paper "Dublin's first Family Planning Clinic", London 1971, published Basel 1972, with cover note from Solomons to Mary Robinson (MR); article by Michael Heneghan "Family Planning Bill, and Contraception", sent to all TDs [Teachta Dála, member of Dáil Éireann, lower house of Irish parliament] and Senators, 21/11/1973; report from International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Europe - Region "A Survey of the legal status of contraception, sterilisation and abortion in European Countries, and correspondence between MR and Julian Heddy, Information & Education Section 06/1973-14/10/1974; booklet "Marriage morality: where do we stand?", Patrick A Baggot, SJ, 11/1973; Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) Annual Report 1973; cover letter from Mrs RM Blackith, honorary Secretary, Irish Conservation Society enclosing booklet "Has Ireland A Population Problem", published by the society in 1973, and a flyer for The World Population exhibition "What is the future for Ireland's children?", 04-26/01/1974; material from The Irish Family League including booklet "Is Contraception the Answer?" (11/1973), flyer "Contraception and Abortion The Irish Humanist Objective", booklet "Contraception and the Irish Constitution" by Maurice Dooley, booklet/pamphlet "Alert Oral Contraceptive", and open letter "To The Taoiseach, Members of the Government, Deputies and Senators"197[3-4?]; document "A Question of Perspective - notes by Catholic parents, past and present Committee members of the Irish Family Planning Association (formerly the Fertility Guidance Company) on the Irish Family League pamphlet" and booklet "Facts on Contraception An Answer to ‘The Irish Family League’", 1974 and two copies pf "Advice on Birth Control" Welfare Committee report 197[0-2?]; photocopy of "The Law as it Affects Family Planning in England and Wales", 197[?]; The Victor-Bostrom fund for the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) reports No 15 "The United Nations Faces the Population Crisis", Winter 1971-72, and No 18 "Family Planning: Improving Opportunities for Women", Spring 1974; IFPA Annual report 1974; IPPF Europe Regional Information Bulletins 09/1973-10/1979.

Seanad Éireann Parliamentary Debates Official Reports, which included discussion on various family planning legislation, some with notation: 07/07/1971, 20/02/1974, 21/02/1974, 27/03/1974, 17/12/1974, 16/12/1976, 09/02/1977, 05/05/1977, 03/07/1979, 04/07/1979, 11/07/1979, 12/07/1979, 17/07/1979.

Material in this file consists of copies and drafts of various family planning bills, and explanatory memorandums including Health (Family Planning) Act 1979, commencement Order 1980, Health (Family Planning) Regulations 1980, Eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1982, Health (Family Planning) (Amendment) Bill 1985 and Health (Family Planning) (Amendment) Bill 1991.

Material in this file consists of copies and photocopies of addresses, itineraries, seminar papers and other material relating to events. It includes material related to several WPA [Women's Political Association] events including text of speech given by Barry Desmond TD [Teachta Dála, member of Dáil Éireann, lower house of Irish parliament] at meeting, Liberty Hall, Dublin, 24/04/1974, correspondence and programmes for WPA seminar 10/12/1977 and invite to WPA press reception 25/04/1979; address by Mary Robinson (MR), "Women in Public Life", at UCD [University College Dublin] Women's Association, 09/11/197[?]; contribution by MR "Economic and Social Planning: Where do Women Fit In?", at seminar organised by Council For Status of Women, Dublin, 15/11/1977; address by MR, "Sex Discrimination in Pension Schemes", to Irish Association of Pension funds, 10/12/1979; address by Petra Karin Kelly, Economic and Social Committee, "Women in Europe", and list of delegates, Women's Advisory Committee seminar, "Anti-Discrimination Legislation", Galway, 17-19/10/1975; background paper submitted by Norwegian Authorities to 14th conference of European Ministers Responsible for Family Affairs, 06/11/1974; paper "Role and Status of the Rural Woman", DJ O'Driscoll, 197[?]; working paper presented by Mr Sven Aspling, Minister of Health and Social Affairs, Sweden, at the European Conference of Ministers of Family affairs, Oslo, 16-18/09/1975; "Women and the European Community", summary of contributions by those attending symposium 12,13/03/1976, Brussels.

Material in this file consists of correspondence, carbon copies of same and circulars from organisations and people in their professional capacity to Mary Robinson (MR), (unless otherwise specified) in relation to women and equality including circular from Centre D'Études Européennes [Centre of European Studies], University Catholique de Louvain, Belgium, requesting information on state of receiver's research in the field of European integration, 02/1980; circular from CREW [Centre for Research on European Women], Brussels, Belgium in relation to the establishment by them of a Coordinating Committee for the Representation of Women at the European Level, 30/11/1981; correspondence from Louis Courtney, ex MO [Medical Officer] Nenagh County hospital, ex Assistant Master, National Maternity Hospital relating to lack of maternity services for women on North Tipperary, 23/01/1982; press release from Council of Europe in relation to the establishment of a Council of Europe Committee to Study the Role of Women in Politics, 14/12/1983; letter from Barry Desmond TD [Teachta Dála, member of Dáil Éireann, lower house of Irish parliament], Minister for Social Welfare, in relation to the change in formula for calculating maternity allowance, 16/12/1983-29/03/1984; letter from Dr Elizabeth Vallance, Senior Lecturer in Government and Political studies, Queen Mary College, University of London, (signed by Jeanette Shaffer) requesting to meet to discuss research she was carrying out for European Commission on effects of European Equality legislation on national legislation, 15/05/1984; correspondence between MR and Pauline Hall, Training Consultant, Jacinta Elliott, Christine Gara, Irish Women’s Co-operative Development Society, Mary Liddy, AnCO [An Comhairle Oiliúna (The Training Council)] and John Agnew, Department of Labour in relation to the submission by Hall to the Joint Committee on Women's Rights, regarding the "Provision of Training for Women in Self-Employment and Co-operatives" and which included the submission, a proposed course outline, 02/02/1984-21/06/1984; letter from Nuala Fennell, TD, Minister of State for Women's Affairs accompanying a copy of Fennell's position paper on developments in women's affairs, 12/11/1986; letter from Paul Cullen, Special Policy Adviser to the Minister for Labour accompanying summary of main proposals for amendment of Equality Legislation prepared as a basis for consultation by Mr Ruairi Quinn, TD, Minister for Labour and the Public Service, 21/01/1987; circular from Róisín McDermott, Secretary for Women's Aid in relation to outcome of recent case and demanding comprehensive legislative change, 13/7/1987.

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.

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.

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?].

Newspaper cuttings related to women, equality and the law, 10/10/1977-25/06/1990.

Material in this subsubseries relates to Mary Robinson's work in the area of Divorce Law including legislation. It includes material relating to Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Bill, 1975, and the Family Home Protection Bill, 1976, correspondence on changes to divorce law from those working in a professional capacity and from members of the public, material relating to the divorce referendum held in Ireland 06/1986, and 10th Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 1986, and where possible is arranged chronologically.