The first book on the President, Mrs McAleese, is due out for Christmas. It is being written by Irish In- dependent journalist Justine McCarthy and covers the President's life from growing up in Belfast to her inauguration 18 months ago. The author is interviewing numerous politicians so McAleese's canvass for the FF nomination, the strategies of her rivals - the reluctant John Hume and the determined Albert Reynolds - the secret parliamentary party votes, Bertie Ahern's role and the sometimes frantic campaign itself, will all be covered. Her Presidency will not. McAleese is not co-operating with the endeavour because an authorised biography will eventually be written and that is the time to say what she has to say, but she is not hindering it either. No doubt there will be other books between now and then if the Mary Robinson experience is anything to go by.
Meanwhile, the President will be in London next week addressing the Reform Club and an Irish businesswomen's network. She has lunch at St James's Palace on Tuesday with Prince Edward to discuss the Gaisce awards, which are tied in with the Duke of Edinburgh awards. No invitation to his grand June wedding has arrived but it may come yet.
At the end of the month the President will welcome the governor general of Australia Sir William Deane and Lady Deane, who come to Ireland on a three-day state visit. There will be a state dinner at Dublin Castle, a tree planting at the Aras, an honorary degree from Trinity College and visits to Dundalk and Tipperary. Although the President and her husband Martin McAleese stayed in Government House in Canberra, the Australians will be put up at the Berkeley Court. The Aras is simply not equipped to provide five-star accommodation with 24-hour service, and it is considered uneconomic to install it for two or three occasions annually.