Photocopy of typed agenda and minutes for meeting held on 8th of January 1991 to discuss themes of the Presidency, organisation of office (roles of individuals, functional areas and special projects), staffing, resources, services and Government advice, which was attended by President Mary Robinson (MR), Nick Robinson, Bride Rosney, Joe Brennan and Peter Ryan; MR's handwritten notes in preparation for or taken during meeting.

Themes listed in minutes and notes included Presidency as resource to support self-development at community and local level including voluntary activity, to symbolise the inclusion of the disadvantaged and marginalised, to promote values in areas such as environment, development aid, Human Rights at international level, to promote vibrancy in artistic and cultural endeavour, to foster sense of excellence in achievement, to establish/foster links with emigrants, to represent Ireland in positive and progressive image and work with established agencies such as IDA, Bord Fáilte to enhance and maximise investment, tourism and other opportunities, to create a President's Trust, to extend hand of friendship and love to both communities in Northern Ireland "with no strings attached, no hidden agenda" and also include mention of establishment for Support Services Unit for Áras an Uachtaráin focussed on three areas: Catering Services, Accommodation and Visitor Services and facilities (see P143/4/9/2/2).

Ref: P143/4/9/2/1

Material in this subsubseries, including correspondence, minutes, reports, relates to the administration of Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence of the President of Ireland, for 1991. It includes minutes for meeting held on 8th of January 1991 to discuss themes of the Presidency, organisation of office (roles of individuals, functional areas and special projects), staffing, resources, services and Government advice (143/4/9/2/1) and draft interim report "Management and Organisational Issues within Áras an Uachtaráin", January 1991, which sets out a model for the development of a Support Services Unit within Áras an Uachtaráin (P143/4/9/2/2).

Ref: P143/4/9/2

Material relating to hiring of staff for Áras an Uachtaráin under MR's presidency including fax from Department of Taoiseach "Contract of Employment as Personal Adviser to the President", (has no name or salary listed), 13/12/1990.

Ref: P143/4/9/1/4

Typed biographical note for Bride Rosney, Special Adviser to the President, [12/1990?]; Curriculum Vitae for Colonel Patrick Joseph McNally, new Aide-de-Camp for MR, and Brian McCarthy, and short biography for Peter Ryan [12/1990?] .

Photocopy of typed letter from Frank Murray, Department of the Taoiseach, to Mr B Murphy, Commissioner, OPW, confirming request by MR that all of domestic staff attached to Áras, with exception of cooks, be replaced when convenient, and requesting that MR be kept in the loop on prospective appointees noting "The President is anxious that all new appointees should have suitable skills and experience", 06/12/1990; additional information on full staff details including date of births, role, date joined, rates of pay and whether they lived in the Áras, 11/1990; [Archivist's note: some of the notation on these documents in relation to domestic staff highlighted the age of the staff, some of whom were close to retiring, and/or who had been in service in the same location for some time. The cooks, who had recently joined a union, and were the only staff who were unionised, were also the youngest staff members, by some distance, and as per MR's notes of her address to staff, were a self-contained operation and not affected by overall review.]

Ref: P143/4/9/1/3

Material which was sent to Mary Robinson (MR) while President Elect, and just following her inauguration, to familiarise herself with the running of Áras an Uachtaráin (Áras) and material subsequently relating to the hiring of new staff and the transfer of existing staff elsewhere within the OPW [Office of Public Works], including two copies with different notation of information document on "The Presidential Establishment" (make-up of the secretariat, note on aide-de-camp, status and salaries of household staff, President's salary, and allocation of costs for entertainment by President), "State and other visits abroad", "Administrative arrangements" and "the Inauguration", and handwritten notes of MR's address to the staff at Áras an Uachtaráin announcing the need for change, with new more active role for Presidency and fundamental restructure of household, [12/1990?].

Ref: P143/4/9/1/3

Material which was sent to Mary Robinson while President Elect, and just following her inauguration, to familiarise herself with the running of Áras an Uachtaráin (Áras) including photocopy of letter from Department of Finance relating to the revision of pay of certain civil service grades, 11/09/1990, with list of pay scales as of 01/10/1990 and compliment slip from Secretary of the Government; photocopy of page labelled "General Information - Salaries of Public Representatives and Officials", taken from unknown publication, as of 01/07/1989.

Ref: P143/4/9/1/2

Typed memo from Peter Ryan, Secretary to the President, to MR in relation to the hiring of Laura Donegan, 13/12/1990

Material which was sent to Mary Robinson (MR) while President Elect, and just following her inauguration, to familiarise herself with the running of Áras an Uachtaráin (Áras) including two photocopies of "Áras an Uachtaráin Review of Organisation and Procedures, Management Services, Department of Public Services", June 1986; photocopy of memo "On the Employment of Aides-De-Camp to An tUachtarán" from "A" Administration Section, Adjutant-General's Branch, Defence Forces Headquarters, Dublin to [Frank] Murray, Assistant Secretary to the Government and [Peter Ryan] Secretary to An Uachtarán [The President], 20/11/1990; information document on "The Presidential Establishment" (make-up of the secretariat, note on aide-de-camp, status and salaries of household staff, President's salary, and allocation of costs for entertainment by President), "State and other visits abroad", "Administrative arrangements" and "the Inauguration", 11/1990; typed letter to Ass. Commissioner Ned O'Dea and Supt. Aidan Brown from Bride Rosney, Special Adviser to the President on behalf of MR, listing members of An Garda Síochána [Irish police force] MR was seeking for various tasks, [11]/1990; typed memos from Peter Ryan, Secretary to the President, to MR in relation to funding for the household of Áras, 05/12/1990, financial resources, services provided by other departments and C.E.R.T. review, 17/12/1990; typed list of telephone extensions for the Áras, listing staff names, [12/1990?].

Ref: P143/4/9/1/1

Material in this subsubseries, consisting mainly of correspondence, relates to the administration of Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence of the President of Ireland, for 1990. It includes that relating to a review of staff and staffing levels and resources at the start of Mary Robinson (MR)'s term as President, which began officially when she was inaugurated on 4th December 1990, as well as allocation by the Government of costs for entertainment by the President. General background information on the running of the Áras is also included, much of which was sent to MR once she was declared President elect following the election on 7th November 1990.

Ref: P143/4/9/1