Material relating to President Mary Robinson (MR)'s official visit to New Zealand (NZ), visit to Hong Kong (HK), and State visit to India, 15 September - 3 October 1993, including briefing book for NZ and HK covering political situation, economic relations (NZ), trade relations (HK), GATT [General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade], cultural relations and historical links (NZ), International Fund for Ireland (NZ), CVs (NZ) and Irish Community in HK; briefing book for India, covering political situation, trade and economic relations, GATT, cultural relations and historical links, Irish community in India, background on locations and organisations to be visited, Irish Development Cooperation projects in India and CVs; briefing book on general political issues covering Former Yugoslavia, Russia, Somalia, Middle East, Nuclear Non-proliferation, EC [European Community] issues (Maastricht, enlargement, EMU [Economic Monetary Union]), Anglo-Irish relations and United Nations reform and peacekeeping; paper "Trinity and the Commonwealth", prepared by Bill Vaughan, Trinity College Dublin, for the Secretary General of the Commonwealth in 1992, and which Vaughan sent to Nick Robinson for MR ahead of visit, 24/08/1993; text of address by MR to The Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents' Club, 24/09/1993, "Irish Identity within Europe"; CAC 34th anniversary coupon for Chinese Arts and Crafts (HK), Silvercord branch; correspondence relating to gifts being given and received including note that gifts are not exchanged directly in India but via protocol locally, list of gifts received by MR's party from India, list of items which came in three boxes from New Delhi at end of trip, and fax from Kate Slattery, Protocol Division, to Joe Brennan, relating to gifts being delivered that afternoon, 12/10/1993; menu for luncheon in honour of MR hosted by Jamshyd N Godrej, President of Confederation of Indian Industry, 1/10/1993, The Oberoi Towers.

Ref: P143/4/5/3/3/7

Folder labelled "Sudan" relating to possible Presidential visit to Sudan which was postponed. Includes Amnesty International report "Sudan Patterns of Repression", 19/02/1993; poem from Betty Lynch and letters referring to President Mary Robinson (MR)'s visit to Somalia as well as crisis in Sudan, 01-18/05/1993; letter to MR from John O'Shea, Director, GOAL, referring to her potential visit to South Sudan and enclosing GOAL report on emergency feeding and relief operations, 21/05/1993; photocopy of communications from Embassy of Ireland, Lagos, Nigeria, to Secretary of Foreign Affairs on Abuja Talks on Sudan Conflict, 21-28/05/1993; correspondence between Noel Dorr (ND), Secretary Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Frank Murray (FM), Secretary to the Government, Dept of the Taoiseach, and Peter Ryan (PR), Secretary to the President (21-25/05/1993) on the possible visit of MR which includes detailed reports from Éamon Ó Tuathail (EÓT), Irish Ambassador in Cairo, (7-14/01/1993) and points for MR to consider; photocopy of fax from Justin Kilcullen, Trócaire (Catholic Agency for World Development), to MR about possible visit, 27/05/1993; briefing material from ND, sent by FM to PR including reports on the situation in Sudan and on the Abuja peace process from EÓT, 23/05-01/06/1993; photocopy of handwritten letter from David Manning, Merseyside, England, to MR discussing airlift of food and medicine which he had organised using "the world's largest transport aircraft the Russian [Antona?] 124" through a UK company, 02/06/1993 and requesting a meeting with her to draw media attention to his fundraising and airlifts, 02/06/1993; correspondence between ND, FM and PR relating to paper stating pros and cons of visit to Sudan drawn up by Ronan Murphy, Assistant Secretary, Development Cooperation Division, DFA, and telex from Ambassador EÓT, 23/05-03/06/1993; correspondence relating to the presentation of credentials by the new Sudanese Ambassador Mr Ali M Yassin on 9th of July including from Tom Kitt, TD, Minister of State, Dept. of Foreign Affairs who could not attend, 07/06/1993, a note from Joe Brennan stating Joan Burton, Minister of State, Dept of Social Welfare would attend, 08/07/1993, background notes including briefing note on Ireland's bilateral Aid Programme to Sudan, and itinerary of events at the presentation; letter from FM to PR stating that DFA had recommended MR should not visit Sudan at that time because "of situation there, the danger and the difficulty of arranging such a visit" along with challenges of the rainy season, and recommending instead that "position should be reviewed again in the Autumn when a formal invitation is expected to have been received from the Sudanese President", 16/07/1993, with reports enclosed including from Ambassador in Copenhagen on visit to Sudan by Troika of EC [European Community] Development Ministers and follow-up letter from FM to PR, 20/07/1993 with note of conversation between Ronan Murphy and Ambassador Yassin referring to human rights issues and need for "linkage between any expansion of Development Aid and an improvement in the Human Rights situation there".

Ref: P143/4/5/3/3/6

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

Material relating to President Robinson's official visit to Britain (Oxford and London), 26-28/05/1993 including correspondence from Frank Murray, Secretary to the Government, and Peter Ryan, Secretary to the President, relating to possibility of courtesy call being paid to Queen Elizabeth II during visit, as agreed by Taoiseach and Tánaiste, 15/02/1993; ceremonial order from Adjutant-General's Branch, Defence Forces Headquarters, 17/05/1993; print out of delegation list, programme, car plan, protocols, seating plans and list of telephone numbers (Nick's copy); lists of attendees at "Annual dinner 1993" including ambassadors, architects, church, actors, armed forces, artists and designers, journalists, writers, musicians, state officials and academics; Department of Foreign Affairs Brief.

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

Material relating to President Robinson (MR)'s visit to USA 11-20/05/1993 including official ringbound information handbook for visit with details of delegation list, programme, car plans and contact numbers (3 copies); official handbook on protocols (3 copies); list of gifts for presentation with post-it note from Joe Brennan, Deputy Secretary to the President, 11/05/1993; reception programme, Washington, 14/05/1993; CARE Foundation Humanitarian Awards Luncheon programme [MR awarded CARE Humanitarian Award for Relief for her work raising awareness of the crisis in Somalia]; welcome letter from Robert C. Wilburn, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Virginia and two complimentary tickets for MR and Nick Robinson (NR), 15-17/05/1993; ticket as "President's Guest" for Columbia University Commencement Exercises, New York, 19/05/1993; background documentation on The Irish American Partnership; correspondence between Alan K Simpson, United States Senator, and NR, 28/05-23/06/1993; photocopy of official White House Photograph taken 04/05/1993 of MR, President Bill Clinton and Vice-President Al Gore.

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

Material relating to State visit to Spain 04-07/05/1993 including correspondence between Frank Murray, Secretary to the Government and Peter Ryan, Secretary to the President, re draft programme for State visit, 28-29/01/1993 and fax from Embassy of Ireland, Madrid, to Chief of Protocol with further information, 03/02/1993; fax letter from J Willis to Nick Robinson (NR) querying possibility of visit to the Special Olympics Centre for to draw attention to movement, 12/04/1993; document on ceremonial order from Adjutant-General's Branch, Defence Forces Headquarters, 20/04/1993; itinerary with wardrobe notes for NR written in margin; note to NR from Joe Brennan, Deputy Secretary to the President (JB) about schedule while Mary Robinson is talking with Prime Minister Gonzales, 23/04/1994; correspondence re suggested list of gifts between NR from JB, 23-30/04/1993; handwritten text of caption [for photograph] in Spanish of the Robinsons at Palacio Real de El Pardo; photocopies of articles on Spanish architecture.

Ref: P143/4/5/3/3/2

Material relating to visit to Edinburgh, Scotland, 16-17/01/1993 including letter from Dermot Nally, Secretary to the Government, to [Peter Ryan], Secretary to the President informing him of Government approval for President Robinson (MR) to leave State to attend Scotland v Ireland International Rugby match, and other social functions, 17/12/1992; correspondence from Joe Brennan [Deputy Secretary to the President] to MR on seating in the Royal Box at Murrayfield for the Rugby match, and information on Princess Anne, including how to address her and details of her patronages, 15/01/1993; note on conversation between Ambassador Joseph Small and Mr Ian Lang, MP Secretary of State for Scotland which covered topics such as Scottish devolution, Scottish Select Committee, comparisons with Northern Ireland, use of Scots Gaelic, the EC Edinburgh summit and Mr Lang's own constituency, along with note from Small on Lang's background and comment on Lang's views "He is suave and bland and gives the impression of being more English than Scottish. His attitude to Scots Gaelic betrayed this as did his whole approach to the aspirations of many Scots for greater autonomy", 13/01/1993; information booklet with details of programme, car plan, protocols, guest lists, telephone numbers and biographical notes along with menu for dinner in Bute House, 16/01/1993, and match ticket for Nick Robinson; letter from Mary [?] to MR enclosing newsletter from Kenya (Dec 1992) which included article on MR's visit to Somalia, 17/01/1993; draft programme for visit to Strasbourg for conference "Human Rights at the Dawn of the 21st century" (organised by the Council of Europe ahead of the World Conference on Human Rights) 29-31/01/1993, sent to Nick Robinson, from Peter Ryan, 28/01/1993.

Ref: P143/4/5/3/3/1

Material relating to visits by Mary Robinson abroad in 1993, including to Scotland (P143/4/5/3/3/1), Spain (P143/4/5/3/3/2,11), United States of America (P143/4/5/3/3/3,11), England (P143/4/5/3/3/4, 10), Northern Ireland (P143/4/5/3/3/5,12), Sudan (P143/4/5/3/3/6), New Zealand, Hong Kong and India (P143/4/5/3/3/7,13), Hungary (P143/4/5/3/3/8), and Wales (P143/4/5/3/3/9).

Ref: P143/4/5/3/3

Press cuttings relating to President Robinson's visit to Somalia, October 1992.

Ref: P143/4/5/3/2/6

Faxed press articles relating to State visit to France, May 1992.

Ref: P143/4/5/3/2/5