THE President will announce her decision on whether to run for a second term in office early in the new year, according to her special adviser, Ms Bride Rosney.
Mrs Robinson is still considering the matter, according to Ms Rosney, but is committed to making an announcement, probably before the end of February.
"She is in the middle of a thought process and will make a decision in the next couple of weeks," she said.
Ms Rosney confirmed also she would be resigning from her position as special adviser in 1997, but denied this was linked in any way to Mrs Robinson's plans.
"I have always said that I would do the first term, seven years, and I wouldn't do any more than that," said Ms Rosney.
Mrs Robinson's first term of office comes to an end in December 1997. Speculation that she could become the next Secretary General of the United Nations ended earlier this month when a Ghanaian, Mr Kofi Annan, was chosen for a five year term.
Speculation continues, however, that Mrs Robinson could be a candidate to run one of the major UN agencies. The post of UN High Commissioner for Refugees, currently held by Mrs Sadako Ogata, will become vacant in 1998. The term of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr Jose Ayalo Lasso, also finishes that year, although he is eligible for a second term.
Ms Rosney, a personal friend of Mrs Robinson, was a key campaigner for her in the 1990 presidential election.
Should Mrs Robinson decide to seek a second term, it is likely she would be unopposed.
If she does not run, the names of two former Taoisigh, Mr Albeit Reynolds and Mr Charles Haughey, and two former ministers, Mr David Andrews and Ms Mary O'Rourke, have been mentioned as possible Fianna Fail candidates.