Records on Ireland

The materials in FOIA 2002-0033-F are a selective, not necessarily all inclusive, body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. The records relating to FOIA 2002-0033-F contain materials from various individuals, organizations, government agencies, and White House offices. These materials address many individuals, issues, and events, both current and historical. To better understand these records, the following information may be of value: 2002-0033-F 2 Gaelic Terms: Oifig an Taoisigh [Taoiseach] - Office of the Prime Minister Uachtarán na hÉireann - President of Ireland Seanad Eireann - Senate (Ireland's Upper House of Parliament) Dail Eireann (Ireland's Lower House of Parliament) Persons of Note: Antony Acland - British Ambassador to U.S. (1986 - 1991) David Andrews - Irish Foreign Minister (1992) Gerard Collins - Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland (1982, 1989 - 1992) Sean Donlon - Irish Ambassador to U.S. (October 1978 - October 1981) Garret Fitzgerald - 7 th Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland (two terms July 1981 - February 1982; December 1982 - March 1987) William Henry Gerald Fitzgerald - U.S. Ambassador to Ireland (1992 - 93) (b. 1909 d. 2006) Dermot A. Gallagher - Irish Ambassador to the U.S. (August 1991 - August 1997) Charles James Haughey - 6 th Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland - 3 terms (December 1979 - June 1981; March 1982 - December 1982; and March 1987 - February 1992), President of the European Council (EC) Margaret Heckler - U.S. Ambassador to Ireland (1985 - 1989) Patrick J. Hillery - 6 th President of Ireland (1976 - 1990) Brian Lenihan - Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland (1987 - 1990) Padraic MacKernan - Irish Ambassador to the U.S. (September 1985 - August 1991) Eugene McCaffrey - U.S. Observer to the International Fund for Ireland Richard Anthony Moore - U.S. Ambassador to Ireland (1989 - 1992) Tadhg O'Sullivan - Irish Ambassador to the U.S. (December 1981 - August 1985) Albert Reynolds - 8 th Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland (February 1992 - December 1994) Mary Robinson - 7 th President of the Republic of Ireland (1990 - 1997) Organizations of Note: European Commission on Human Rights (ECHR) - An organization set up to represent individuals before the European Court of Human Rights, as no direct access existed at this time Fainna Fail - The Republican Party which holds the position as the largest and most successful political party in Ireland Irish Republican Army (IRA) - A military organization which was originally anti-Anglo-Irish Treaty and then actively supported the reunification of Northern Ireland to Ireland Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) - Second generation IRA Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) - Northern Ireland Police Force International Fund for Ireland (IFI) - (1986) This organization came into being through an international agreement between the British and Irish Governments. Its objectives are to promote economic and social advancement and to encourage contact, dialogue, and reconciliation between nationalists and unionists throughout Ireland European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) - An organization that invests in the private sector to promote market economies Ulster Defence Association (UDA) - A Loyalist paramilitary group whose stated mission was to defend the Loyalist community from Republican terrorism Events of Note: Government of Ireland Act This act provided for Home Rule in Ireland and partitioned Ireland (1920) into two sections, north (predominately Protestant) and south (predominately Catholic). These areas would become Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. 2002-0033-F 3 Anglo-Irish Treaty (1921) The Treaty was an agreement between the United Kingdom and representatives of the Irish Republic, which ended the Irish War of Independence and established the Irish Free State as part of the British Empire. It also provided Northern Ireland, which had been created by The 1920 Government of Ireland Act, an option to opt out of the Irish Free State, which it did. The Troubles (1960s - 1998) This was the latest period of violence between the nationalist Irish groups and those loyal to the United Kingdom in regard to the disputed status of Northern Ireland. The impasse came about due to varying opinions on whether Northern Ireland would remain part of the United Kingdom or vote to end British rule and join the Republic of Ireland. The Troubles were exacerbated by domination and discrimination of the predominately Roman Catholic minority nationalist community by the unionist Protestant majority. The violence was characterized by armed battles between nationalist paramilitary and pro-unionist groups. Anglo-Irish Accord (1985) This was a treaty between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland which aimed to end "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland. It acknolwedged the Irish government as having an advisory role in Northern Ireland's government, yet confirmed that Northern Ireland would be recognized as part of the United Kingdom until a majority agreed to join the Republic. The objective of giving Dublin an advisory role in the governing of Northern Ireland was to ensure that the rights of the Catholic minority were taken into consideration. Anglo-Irish Agreement This act is a U.S. bill which authorizes contributions to the International Support Act of 1986 Fund of Ireland. Irish Immigration Reform Established May 20, 1987 The IIRM's purpose was to support the Movement (IIRM) idea of legal status for new Irish immigrants and encourage immigration reform, in general. Presentation of St. Patrick's This event is a yearly presentation of a bowl full of shamrocks from the Day Shamrocks Republic of Ireland to the United States as a symbol of warm relations between the two countries. Brooke Initiative This peace-making strategy is named after the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Affairs, Peter Brooke. In an attempt to bring peace to Northern Ireland, this was intended as a response to Northern Unionists and an alternative to the Anglo-Irish Agreement. MacBride Principles These guidelines were named after Sean MacBride, a Nobel Prize and Lenin Peace Prize winner and Chairman of The Caucus (a group who aimed to share views with the Irish National Caucus, a United States- based organization). The hope was that a set of requirements for U.S. firms to practice equal opportunity and affirmative action in Northern Ireland would promote fair employment. The Bush Presidential White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) Alphabetical Files, WHORM Subject Files, and Staff and Office Files categories consist of biographies, cables, charts, coversheets/transmittal sheets, forms, letters, lists, memos, notes, photographs, press releases, printed 2002-0033-F 4 materials, remarks, resumes, schedules, and talking points. These materials include public biographies of William H.G. Fitzgerald, George Kennedy and Philip Zelikow; cables relating to State and Official working visits Feb to June 1990, Head of State Congratulatory messages for inaugurations, 4 th of July Celebration, St. Patrick's Day, condolences for California Earthquake, appreciation for visits and gifts; press conferences and press reports regarding the banning of the Ulster Defence Association and the Strand talks, public remarks of the Irish Presidency presenting its program to the European Parliament; charts of seating arrangements for George Bush meeting with Charles Haughey; coversheets/transmittal sheets to distribute correspondence to staff members or between agencies; and forms for White House Approved Presidential Activity, Checklist for Presidential Events, and Request for Scheduling Recommendation. There are numerous letters from a wide variety of entities, such as from constituents and congressional members regarding issues, such as the case regarding political asylum for Joseph Doherty, immigration handling of visitors to the U.S, The Irish Children's Fund Inc., U.S. commitment to promote peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, requests of assistance from or support for charitable organizations and schools, Sister City programs, human rights problems in Northern Ireland, requests for meetings with George Bush or Bush officials and/or offering opinions on handling of Irish political issues and replies from the White House, State Department, and Department of Transportation, presentation correspondence and thank you letters regarding gifts from the public and Head of State, correspondence relating to various legislation, such as S. 856, "Northern Ireland Fair Employment Practices Act" and Department of State response to H.R. 3299, and requests for George Bush remarks or endorsements for special Irish occasions and his responses. There are also Head of State correspondence of condolence regarding the fire in New York; invitations to the White House Conference on Science and Economics Research related to Global Change; appreciation notes for trips and invitations; congratulatory messages regarding George Bush's inauguration, George Bush illness, U.S. Independence Day, and St. Patrick's Day celebrations, as well as letters from ambassadors, such as the resignation and acceptance of same for Henry Catto and the letter of resignation by Richard Moore and George Bush's acceptance. Other materials includes lists of events, meetings, participants and delegation members, and itineraries for meetings and trips; memos directing correspondence, addressing issues, such as proposed presidential activities, messages, or statements, requests for information, travel, or legislation comments, and nominations of various individuals, such as Richard A. Moore and William Fitzgerald; notes relating to speeches, state visits, gifts, etc. ; photographs of gifts and Barbara Bush with Ambassadors' wives; and press releases on a multitude of subjects, such as George Bush's Invitation to the Prime Minister of Ireland Charles J. Haughey for an official working visit to Washington, Presidential Statements, and North Ireland Talks. Printed materials consist of newspaper articles on various issues related to Ireland, such as appointments of Ambassadors and programs to enhance cooperation; brochures form different Irish organizations; reports on The American Ireland Fund; Resolutions on Irish-American Heritage Month; and booklets on fair employment in Northern Ireland and the Irish Immigration Reform Movement. The remarks include materials such as George Bush's public remarks to Prime Minister of Ireland Charles J. Haughey upon his departure from Washington and George Bush's St. Patrick's Day statements. Resumes are for those that have been appointed to public office, such as Henry Catto and William FitzGerald; schedules outline government-business foreign travel, meetings with various Irish political figures, and proposals for meetings; while talking points are for George Bush's presentation of Shamrocks for the annual St. Patrick's Day and a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Brian Lenihan. The Bush Vice Presidential Name Files, WHORM Subject Files, and Staff and Office Files categories consist of coversheets, an invitation, letters, a list, maps, memos, notes, photos, press releases, printed material, a report, a resume, schedules, statements, and a table. These materials include coversheets to route correspondence to staff members; an invitation to a reception at the Irish Embassy; letters between constituents and Vice President Bush regarding events, meetings, congratulations, recommendations, invitations, or opinions regarding issues related to Ireland; a list of the Board and Council Members of Cooperation North; maps of Ireland and the city of Dublin; memos with factual information on the Irish elections, travel and/or scheduling of meetings, and pending legislation; and notes which forward material to staff members, or correspond to constituents regarding proposed invitations to special occasions or for appointments and to discuss events attended by George Bush. There are also copies of 2002-0033-F 5 photographs of constituents with George Bush; press releases of the London Press Service regarding issues related to Northern Ireland and President Reagan's public remarks on St. Patrick's Day, 1981; printed material, which includes legislative resolutions, a Cooperation North brochure, and newspaper articles on various events, organizations or celebrations relating to Ireland or Irish heritage; the Department of State Public Report on Ireland; the resume of Luther Brady, Jr.; schedules of the Official Working Visits of the Prime Minister of Ireland and Mrs. Haughey and Prime Minister to Ireland and Mrs. FitzGerald; the statements of Cardinal Cooke at the 1983 New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade and on the Quest for Peace in the North of Ireland, February 1983; and a table of the Irish Pound Conversion. Read less