File 5 - Outgoing 1993 Part 5

150 pp

Material relating to President Robinson (MR)'s visit to Northern Ireland 18-19/06/1993 which became a visit of some significance. It included a trip to see community groups in West Belfast, which led to a flurry of communication through various diplomatic channels between Irish and British Governments and the President prior to and following the visit, when news of the visit was leaked allegedly by the Northern Ireland Office, mainly due to the presence of Gerry Adams at the West Belfast visit and the potential for it to be used by Sinn Féin for political gain. The UK Government wished to address the frequency, the advance notice and the programme of future visits which the Irish Government diplomatically acknowledged but did not fully accept, as it was felt such visits by Irish Head of State should not be dictated by the UK Government. In minutes from meeting between MR and Tánaiste prior to visit, MR noted this visit was "probably the most important visit of her Presidency".

Material includes correspondence relating to programming for West Belfast event, confidential fax from Secretariat in Belfast to Dept. of Foreign Affairs, forwarded to Peter Ryan (PR), Secretary to the President, by Brian McCarthy 15/06/1993; minutes of meeting between Tánaiste and President 16/06/1993; letter from Taoiseach Albert Reynolds to MR in relation to attached note from British Ambassador to Ireland expressing British Governments concerns re West Belfast meeting, 15-16/06/1993; note from PR to MR re call he received from Councillor Chris McGimpsy advising him that Mayor of Belfast had received draft programme from Northern Ireland Office, which implied meeting in West Belfast was being led by Gerry Adams, and McGimpsy wished to convey "on behalf of the whole Ulster Unionist Group their difficulty with the whole tenor of the visit", 16/06/1993 with note on response from MR which PR conveyed in response call; note of call PR received from Councillor Rogers as member of Ulster Unionist Party and Chairman of Shankhill Community projects expressing concern of prospect that MR might meet with Gerry Adams, with PR's response, 17/06/1993; note to Bride Rosney from Inez McCormack [facilitator for West Belfast meeting] conveying anger from community groups at "this mischief making", and noting the groups were under increasing pressure from press and within the area, 17/06/1993; minutes of meeting of MR with Tánaiste and Frank Murray (FM), Secretary to the Government, to brief her on outcome of discussions in London in relation to her proposed visit to Northern Ireland, 17/06/1993; notes for and minutes of meeting with Taoiseach, 17/06/1993 in which Taoiseach expressed his own view visit should proceed, referring to threat on MR from the Red Hand Commando (which MR indicated she was aware of but not unduly worried about) and in which he expressed view that NIO did not seem to know the communities on the ground 17/06/1993; letter from PR to Brian McCarthy following article in Sunday Independent by Kevin O'Connor, in which PR expressed MR's "grave concern at the suggestion that she did not consult adequately with Government prior to her visit to West Belfast" and stated for the record the relevant sequence of events, and text of statement subsequently issued by the Government Press secretary refuting the claims in the article 27/06/1993; correspondence between PR, FM, British Embassy, Dublin, and MR relating to procedures for future visits to Northern Ireland, 29/06-01/07/1993; photocopy of note from Patrick Mayhew, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to MR in response to letter of thanks from her on 13th July, 23/07/1993; itineraries and draft programmes; draft lists of attendees (for West Belfast meeting?); letter from Archbishop Robin Eames to MR referring to decision by Belfast Council regarding future invitations [possibly refusing to issue them?], giving advice and support, 03/09/1993.

Ref: P143/4/5/3/3/5

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