Brief reports on other matters revealed by the State Papers.
Ó Fiaich role outlined in security report
The appointment of Msgr Tomás Ó Fiaich, president of Maynooth, as the new Archbishop of Armagh in succession to Cardinal Conway was the subject of a confidential security assessment in August 1977, according to papers released in Belfast, writes Eamon Phoenix.
The reference forms part of a confidential report by AS Keenan, the civil representative in Armagh.
While referring to the recent visit of Queen Elizabeth II to the North, Keenan informed Stormont: "It is particularly heartening to note that PIRA does not now have the degree of public support required to mount major campaigns to coincide with periods of sensitivity."
In his view, the recent "missed opportunities" for terrorist offensives "indicate that security force attrition of terrorists and their weapons, together with increasing public repugnance for their methods, is very seriously eroding their capacity to influence the political situation by acts of violence".
Turning to Msgr Ó Fiaich's appointment, the liaison officer reported: "The announcement of the proposed appointment of Msgr Ó Fiaich as primate has been greeted with predictable attitudes from loyalist quarters and with not a little surprise from more moderate Catholics."
However, once people got over their surprise at the appointment, it was being interpreted as "a wise choice on the grounds that only a man with Msgr Ó Fiaich's background had a chance of exerting the Church's traditional influence on Irish politics which, hopefully, can take the initiative from PIRA which has done so much damage to the Church".
Disquiet over Nairac murder
The disappearance and presumed murder of SAS operative Capt Robert Nairac in south Armagh was discussed in a confidential intelligence report.
The report, dated June 1st, 1977, was filed by AS Keenan, civil representative for Armagh, and reports that the incident, "though initially publicly deplored by local and Church representatives in the area, was being privately considered as something of a double 'scoop' for the Provisional IRA".
However, the official added, "the continuing absence of a body is now being widely interpreted as an indication of the infliction of bestial treatment" and amid such speculation, any boost for PIRA from the incident would be seriously eroded.
Sensitive files are withheld
This year the Public Record Office in Belfast is releasing previously confidential files for the year 1977. Of the 466 files examined, 49 have been closed on grounds of sensitivity with an additional 31 subject to partial closure or redaction (blanking-out).
In most cases the reason for closure is to protect individuals in accordance with data protection rules.
Among files closed are papers on "Economic activities of paramilitary organisations" (closed until 2073) and one entitled "Use of firearms by prison guards" (closed until 2057).
A file on the ending of special category status is blanked out until 2062 while a department of the environment folder on "Belfast areas of need" will remain partially closed until 2057.
US notified embassy over guns for RUC
The US state department tipped off the Irish embassy in Washington in 1976 that it had reluctantly agreed to a British request to supply the RUC with weapons, writes Alison Healy.
State department official Jack Crowley said the British had sought 900 MI carbines and it had initially been suggested "that they should see if they could satisfy their requirements elsewhere".
He said objections had been raised on human rights grounds, with claims that "supplying any materials to a controversial body such as the RUC was problematic".
The request was eventually approved "but it was made clear to them that similar requests would not be welcomed in the future".
Objection to Chinese embassy
A proposal to set up a Communist Chinese embassy in Dublin in 1976 ran into objections from the Department of Defence who opposed the plan on security grounds.
Minister for defence Paddy Donegan said a diplomatic mission for the People's Republic "would facilitate intelligence activities here and against other countries and would further complicate the present security problem".
Minister for finance Richie Ryan also objected, on the grounds of additional expenditure.
Minister for foreign affairs Garret FitzGerald accepted that the embassy would mean additional security problems but said such problems must be accepted in the context of maintaining diplomatic relations with many countries.
The cabinet gave the plan the go-ahead so that Dr FitzGerald could pass on the news to his Chinese opposite number when he met him at the UN.
Carter lunch went over budget
A 1977 lunch in honour of the mother of US president Jimmy Carter exceeded government guidelines for entertaining by more than £285.
This was because the menu for Lillian Carter was "in keeping with the usual standards for such occasions hosted by the taoiseach", according to a government file.
The meal included cottage broth, boiled bacon and carrageen souffle, washed down by Chateau Lynch Bages at £4.50 a bottle. Approval was also given for the spending of £190 on an antique letter or toast rack which was presented to Mrs Carter by taoiseach Jack Lynch during her visit.
Cathaoirleach had to cadge lifts
Prof James Dooge, who was cathaoirleach of the Seanad in the 1970s, complained that the absence of a State car had caused him "embarrassment".
In a letter to taoiseach Jack Lynch when he was leaving office in August 1977, Prof Dooge argued that a State car should be given to his successor. "On a few public occasions I was saved from acute embarrassment due to the absence of suitable transport through the courtesy of individual ministers who provided me with official transport on a personal basis," he said.
"In effect the chairman of one of our Houses was reduced to cadging lifts in order that he might perform his official duties in a becoming manner."
Shamrock arrived late at embassy
The late arrival of a consignment of shamrock to the Irish embassy in Luxembourg is documented in detail in the "shamrock file" kept in the Department of Foreign Affairs.
In March 1977, the Irish ambassador to Luxembourg, Valentine Iremonger, complained that his consignment of shamrock did not arrive until the evening of St Patrick's Day.
It later emerged that the shamrock was delayed because of an Aer Lingus strike.