State papers: Reynolds said courtesy call by Mary Robinson to British queen 'should not be encouraged'
Taoiseach, Albert Former Reynolds
Confidential government files have revealed that Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, felt in April 1992 that a courtesy call by President Mary Robinson to Queen Elizabeth “should not be encouraged".
Newly released files from the Department of the Taoiseach under the 30-year rule hint at the Government’s unease at being pressed by Ms Robinson later that year to approve of her paying such a call to the Queen in May 1993 as part of a proposed visit to accept an honorary degree from Oxford University.
There had already been alarm over reports she had invited the Queen to visit Ireland.
Ms Robinson told the Taoiseach that the report did not truly reflect what she had said when he phoned her to express his serious concern about her comments.
A note of the conversation recorded that: “The Taoiseach emphasised the seriousness of what had happened and also stressed his desire not to be confrontational.”
The secretary to the Government, Frank Murray, wrote in December 1992 that: “The practice regarding courtesy calls by the President when abroad is that no such courtesy visits are arranged.”
Mr Murray pointed out that courtesy calls should only be organised "in the case of State or official visits". However, the files reveal that the Government’s official line on the issue just five months later was that “it is normal practice for a Head of State to pay a courtesy call of this sort during a visit to another country".
Before that, Mr Murray noted in December 1992 that Ms Robinson’s proposed visit to Oxford to pick up an honorary degree was effectively “a private visit” which would ordinarily not include any official functions or programme.
He recommended that the President’s request should be notified to the Taoiseach before advice about it was sought from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Government secretary acknowledged that the matter would have to be considered “in the overall context of Anglo-Irish relations".
However, he added: “As far as I am aware there is no real basis for the President making a courtesy call on the Queen.”
A handwritten note on the same document, which recommended that the matter should be brought to the Taoiseach’s attention, recorded that a courtesy call on the Queen “would be a political act on which you or the Government should take a view".
A note of a meeting between Ms Robinson and the Taoiseach in Áras an Uachtaráin on February 4, 1993, records that the President said she was anxious to avail of the courtesy call “to ensure that appropriate recognition was given to her office". She also stressed that she believed it would be a positive development for relations between Ireland and Britain.
The Taoiseach replied that he would consider the matter further after voicing his concern that the courtesy call could lead to pressure for a State visit to Britain which would give rise to a reciprocal visit by the Queen to Ireland.
Later that month, Mr Reynolds gave his approval for arrangements to be put in place “on this occasion on the basis that it should be clearly understood that the courtesy call would not give rise to any question of a State visit".
Another document reveals that Ms Robinson wanted news of her proposed courtesy call to the Queen to be announced in March 1993 at the same time as there was going to be a press announcement about her visit to Oxford.
However, Mr Murray said the view of the Government would be to delay the announcement until the end of May.
“We should not jump our fences too soon in the area,” Mr Murray remarked, noting that further consultation with the British authorities would be required.
Another memo from an official in the Department of the Taoiseach recorded that the President did not accept a reference in a note by the British ambassador about her proposed courtesy call to the Queen that she was visiting the UK privately.
Ms Robinson claimed her visit was as President of Ireland and could not be classified as a private visit.
Her secretary, Peter Ryan speculated that the British, for their own reasons, might have wanted to classify the President’s trip as a private one.
Files show that President Robinson went ahead with the proposed courtesy call on Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace on May 27, 1993, where they spoke for around 30 minutes.
A file offering various responses to potential media queries about her visit to the Queen included a recommendation to say that the courtesy call was in response to an invitation from the British monarch and was in line with “well-established diplomatic practice.” The advice also suggested that the courtesy call did not give rise to any question of a State visit between the two countries.