Print out of list of accepted patronage requests (Honorary membership/Fellowship) and date accepted (20/11/1990-03/03/1997), with post-it to Bride Rosney (BR), Special Adviser to the President, from Peter Ryan(PR), Secretary to the President, noting they were planning to write to patronage bodies to terminate MR's patronage (as MR's presidential term came to a close), but PR felt those listed should be left stand unless MR specifically wanted them terminated, 03/09/[1997]; note from BR to MR during her last working trip with MR as President, and listing all the countries they had visited together during her Presidency (39 including Ireland), and noting "Not bad for two auld broads? Thanks for the memories...".

Ref: P143/4/6/8/12

Correspondence received during and relating to Mary Robinson (MR)'s term as President of Ireland (1990-1997) arranged chronologically across 12 files. This correspondence was processed through Bride Rosney, Special Adviser to the President and Ann Lane, Personal Assistant to the President, and includes copies of their responses on MR's behalf.

Ref: P143/4/6/8

Large autograph book in gift box presented to President Mary Robinson by Focus Ireland [Irish charity for the homeless] at opening of Focus Ireland apartment complex at George's Hill and Stanhope Green, which was her last engagement as President, 12/09/1997. Includes artwork of the complex by BJ Noctor, and Mark Simpson and messages from tenants of the complex.

Ref: P143/4/13/9

Material relating to the establishment of the Asian University for Women (AUW), Bangladesh, and Mary Robinson (MR)'s involvement including faxed letter from Mrs Lone Dybkjaer, MEP and co-chair International Support committee, AUW, welcoming MR to the committee, 07/11/2001; press release announcing signing of Binding Memorandum at European Parliament, 29/01/2002; ringbound background information on AUW, published by its Support Foundation, New York, 200[2?], including copy of memorandum of understand, charter, and letters seeking funding; typed message from MR on ceremony of groundbreaking for the campus of AUW, 08/01/2004; correspondence from Kamal Ahmad to MR in relation to negotiations with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for major grant, 20/08-24/10/2005; card with handwritten note from [Kamal?] wishing MR a happy new year and thanking her for her continuing engagement until new Board of Trustees is in place, 01/2007.

Correspondence mainly to President Mary Robinson (MR) from Peter Ryan (PR), Secretary to the President, including notes on meeting between MR and Taoiseach John Bruton on 14th May, covering topics relating to Northern Ireland including recent meeting he had with Prime Minister John Major, and the general security situation and the sense "it was bad", 14/05/1997; photocopies of letters from MR to Taoiseach, to Tánaiste Dick Spring, and to Pádraic MacKernan, Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs thanking them for their support for her candidacy for role of UN High Commissioner of Human Rights (HCHR), their assistance and resources, 12/06/1997; photocopy of fax listing Ministers of State who had been appointed by the Government in meetings on 26 June, 1 July and 8 July, 08/07/1997; correspondence between Bride Rosney (BR), [Special Adviser to the President], PR and MR relating to Government Dinner on 15th July hosted by MR including table plans and menu, 09-10/07/1997; briefing notes for and notes on meeting with Taoiseach, 15th July, covering topics including Northern Ireland, HCHR and pressure on MR to take role early, and invitation from Queen Elizabeth II which might fall after MR's presidential term but which was very important for Ireland/UK relations, 15-16/07/1997; note from PR with typed formal advice from Jim Hamilton, Senior Legal Advisor, Office of the Attorney General, on the standing of the Ceann Comhairle following the dissolution of Dáil Éireann, 30/04-27/08/1997; photocopy of cover letter from FM to Private Secretary for Minister for Finance and to PR, with memo for Government submitted by the Minister for Finance stating Government had decided a pension should be paid to MR from 13th September 1997, following her resignation from post as President of Ireland, 25-28/08/1997.

Ref: P143/4/6/1/8/3

Correspondence mainly to President Mary Robinson (MR) from Peter Ryan (PR), Secretary to the President, including briefing notes for and notes on meeting with Taoiseach John Bruton, 9th January, covering topics including Ireland's EU [European Union] Presidency, updates on Northern Ireland, economic matters, programme for outward visits for the year, General elections, possible Presidential election if she wasn't seeking 2nd term, possible amendment to the constitution, and need for more investment in research, especially in universities (raised by MR), 07-09/01/1996; correspondence from Bride Rosney (BR), [Special Adviser to the President], Seán Ó hUiginn, Second Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs, and Frank Murray (FM), Secretary to the Government, in relation to message received from Irish Ambassador to UK, Ted Barrington, that David Trimble [Ulster Unionist Party leader] had sought meeting with the FCO [Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK] to discuss protocol of MR's visits to Northern Ireland, at which the FCO would make clear that they had all conformed to requisite protocol, 23/01/1997; report from Barrington of Trimble's meeting with FCO and comment, forwarded to PR by FM, 29/01-03/02/1997; aide memoire submitted by Taoiseach and cover letter from FM to PR in relation to approval for MR to attend conference on Peace, Gender and Development at Kigali, Rwanda, (with details of conference and itinerary), approval to address the World Food Programme in Rome on World Women's Day and pay courtesy call to His Holiness Pope John Paul II, and intention to present Dr T Hardiman with an award on behalf of Institute of European Affairs during travel to Rwanda, 24-25/02/1997; memo for the Government submitted by Taoiseach and cover letter from FM to PR in relation to Tánaiste being authorised to make arrangements for foreign visits by MR, and visits to Ireland by Foreign Heads of State, for 1997, 1998 and later, 20-25/03/1997.

Ref: P143/4/6/1/8/2

Material relating to (a) MR's decision and announcement she was not seeking second term as President of Ireland, and (b) whether she was being considered for the role of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), whether she should put her name forward, and how this related to her decision not to seek second term. It includes photocopied fax from Niall H[?], Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations (PMUN), to Bride Rosney (BR), Special Adviser to the President, regarding the position of High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR), including that nominations or expressions of interest needed to be submitted soon to the Secretary General (of United Nations) generally by Governments or sometimes NGOs, and listing other names being discussed informally as possible candidates with some background comments on them (Ibrahim Fall, Lakhdar Brahimi) and on relationship with outgoing UNHCHR, Ayala Lasso, 21/02/1997; notes from BR to MR following phone call with Donal Denham (PMUN) including in relation to how candidacy should be played if it is being considered, noting several ambassadors had mentioned to [Ambassador] Ann Anderson that MR should put her name forward, giving background on structure under HCHR and vacant posts, noting need for MR to "clear the lines" with the Irish Government as a priority and ending "the strong word is out in the DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs] that this might be of interest and Handle with Care is plastered all over it", 24/02/1997; note from BR to MR giving her opinion on various courses of action to consider, ramifications of each, and noting her instinct was that MR should make a decision first on the Presidency, [02]/1997; background information on office of HCHR from Ambassador Anderson, via Donal Denham (DD) including correspondence between her and outgoing commissioner Lasso and internally within the PMUN on restructuring of Centre for Human Rights and on vacant posts being advertised internally, for which her Deputy DD was applying, 17/06/1996-24/02/1997; photocopy of fax from Niall H to BR noting timing of appointment partially depended on whether Lasso actually departed on 15 March as scheduled, and whether Ibrahim Fall, Director of the Centre for Human Rights, would transfer to New York as Assistant Secretary General on 8th March, 24/02/1997; note from BR to MR re phone call received from John Swift which gave his opinion on Lasso's time as HCHR, the "disaster" in having both Lasso and the number 2 (Fall) reporting separately to BBG [Boutros Boutros-Ghali], and the fact the new Secretary General would have very strong views on who Lasso's successor should be, 24/02/1997; print out of email from Inez McCormack to BR in which McCormack gives her opinion on MR going for HCHR role "it's exciting to even put it down on paper", 25/02/1997; note from BR to MR re conversation with Ambassador Sahnoun, during which she confidentially raised issue of role and possibility of MR going for it, to which he reacted positively, offering to raise matter with Secretary General, 26/02/1997; fax (photocopied) of African Charter on Human and People's Rights, 25/02/1997; note from BR re conversation with Sahnoun in relation to MR's possible visit to Rwanda, and interest in HCHR role, but noting MR had not spoken to Irish Government about her "current thinking", 26/02/1997; faxed document on HC / Centre for Human Rights Field Activities Financial situation, as at 28/01/1997, sent from PMUN, 26/02/1997; fax from Niall H confirming Fall was moving to New York in March, 27/02/1997; note from BR re phone call from Mark Brannock (Irish Times) who was ringing "about the UN job mark 2", and who mentioned that "several seasoned UN watchers in New York and two specifically" had told him MR would be the leading candidate if she allowed her name to go forward and that sources were saying time was right for Western Candidate "who is not backed by the West” (i.e. US or UK), 27/02/1997; note from BR re phone call from Barbara Jones which included mention of HC post, and suggesting MR "avoid contact with AA [Ann Anderson?] - everything goes back to Iveagh House" and recommending she talk with DD and Sahnoun instead, 27/02/1997; fax from Anderson, PMUN, enclosing statement announcing UN Secretary General's decision to appoint ad-interim Ralph Zacklin, as Officer-in-Charge of the Centre for Human Rights during selection process of HCHR, 27/02/1997; fax from Niall H noting Elizabeth Rehn, Finland had emerged as likely candidate along with notes on other potential candidates, 04/03/1997; note from BR re phone call from Sahnoun reporting Secretary General's reaction [to MR's interest in role] was "very good", 10/03/1997; notes from Peter Ryan (PR) to BR in relation to "notifications" and timetable of events for MR's announcement she was not seeking second term, 11/03/1997; note from PR to MR relating to conversation between Taoiseach and Tánaiste who had offered every assistance and support (for MR's candidacy for UN role), 14/03/1997; note from MR to BR relating to who might act as an emissary [in broaching subject of MR's candidacy to UN Secretary General on behalf of Irish Government], 14/03/1997; CV for MR, Jan 1997; drafts for MR's announcement in relation to not seeking a second term as President of Ireland, and the official statement from MR, Áras an Uachtaráin made on 12th March.

Ref: P143/4/6/1/8/1

Áras correspondence 1997.

Ref: P143/4/6/1/8

Correspondence mainly to President Mary Robinson (MR) from Peter Ryan (PR), Secretary to the President, including copy of brief prepared for Taoiseach's meeting on Special European Council (5th October), and informal notes by officials at the meeting, which Frank Murray, Secretary to the Government, sent to PR for MR's attention, 05-09/10/1996; letter from Joan Burton, TD, Minister for State relating to the establishment of an informal Presidency group involving representatives of the fifteen Member States, to formulate a common EU [European Union] position on United Nations reform in the economic and social fields, and enclosing two papers, 03-11/10/1996; notes re phone call from John Kennedy, to convey message from Sean Donlon, Taoiseach's Programme Manager, in relation to "terrible reservations regarding the security" for MR's visit to Belfast on 23 October, 08/10/1996; briefing notes for and notes of meeting with Taoiseach on 16th October, covering topics including progress in talks in Northern Ireland, and MR's visit over the summer, Ireland's presidency of the EU, and matters relating to Irish beef possibly being banned from Russia due to rise of incidences of BSE [Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as Mad Cow disease], 14-16/10/1996; correspondence between John Burke, Assistant Secretary and Chief of Protocol, Department of Foreign Affairs, Brian McCarthy, Frank Murray, Pat O'Sullivan, Protocol Section, and PR relating to proposed visits for 1997, and the addition of the Czech Republic to the list following a personal invitation from President Havel to MR, 7-18/11/1996.

Ref: P143/4/6/1/7/2

Correspondence mainly to President Mary Robinson (MR) from Peter Ryan (PR), Secretary to the President, including briefing notes for and notes of meeting between MR and Taoiseach John Bruton, on 5th of February, which covered topics including talks in Northern Ireland, visits abroad which took into account the pressures on the Government in the second half of 1996 due to their presidency of the EU [European Union] and were therefore mainly in first half of 1996, and the issues around the EMU [Economic Monetary Unit], 05/02/1996; notes on meeting with Taoiseach while he was in Áras an Uachtaráin [official residence of the President of Ireland] for another function, to get update on Northern Ireland, including MR's own notes, 15/04/1996; notes on briefing with Taoiseach on Northern Ireland which was requested by MR, 31/05/1996; notes on telephone call between MR and President Nelson Mandela, which PR forwarded to Frank Murray (FM), Secretary to the Government, in which Mandela shared difficulties South Africa were having in education and asked for assistance in retraining of teachers, which MR vowed to pass on to Taoiseach, 31/05-01/06/1996; briefing on EMU and the Irish presidency of the EU, which MR had requested, which was forwarded by FM to Colm Butler, Deputy Secretary to MR, 07/06/1996; photocopy of faxed briefing update on the humanitarian situation in the Great Lakes Region, sent to PR from Barbara Jones, Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs, 10/06/1996; material relating to rumours MR was being considered for post of Secretary General of the United Nations, including queries from Andy Hill, Chief Correspondence, Reuters Ireland, and response from PR stating MR was not a candidate (20/06/1996), photocopies of French press coverage listing MR as first place among "the most outstanding potential candidates" (21/06/1996), article in German paper and translation sent from Embassy of Ireland, Germany (26/06/1996), and two reports of conversations in which the possibility came up, sent by Ted Barrington, Ambassador, Irish Embassy, London (28/06/1996), 20-28/06/1996; correspondence from Ambassador Barrington to Seán O hUiginn, Second Secretary, Anglo-Irish division, Department of Foreign Affairs (25/06/1996), and notes of subsequent phone call from Barrington to PR relating to MR's proposed visit to Manchester following recent bombings, (26/06/1996); notes on meeting with Taoiseach on 6th July, where topics covered included her report on her visit to Manchester, briefings on the Drumcree "stand-off" which was in its second day, and reference to her attendance at a Heritage concert in Cashel, which Taoiseach was also attending, 11/07/1996; photocopy of faxed update received from CONCERN's Dominic MacSorley, Country Director in Rwanda, via Jack Finucane, Regional Director, The Horn and Central Africa, 23/08/1996.

Ref: P143/4/6/1/7/1