The former president, who served from 1990 to 1997, received the Stearne medal at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) in Dublin.
Mary Robinson with RCPI president, Dr Diarmuid O’Shea. Photo: Naoise Culhane
Today’s News in 90 seconds – 6th September 2025
The medal, named after RCPI’s founding president, John Stearne, recognised Mrs Robinson’s “unparalleled contribution to global health, well-being and humanitarianism throughout her career”.
The medal is awarded to people of distinction who have made a significant contribution to medicine in Ireland.
President of the RCPI, Dr Diarmuid O’Shea, commended her enduring legacy, saying: “Mary Robinson’s career has been defined by courage, compassion and an unwavering commitment to justice.
“Her leadership has shaped international policy, reframed climate change as a human rights issue, and brought dignity and hope to millions.
“She exemplifies the values of the Stearne medal and continues to inspire generations of healthcare professionals and humanitarian leaders.”
Mrs Robinson, who went on to be UN high commissioner for human rights and is a member of the Elders, declined to comment when asked by reporters for her views on the current race for the Áras.
Asked for her views on the Gaza crisis, she said it is “shocking what is going on there and quite devastating”.
Mary Robinson visited Rafah in August as part of a delegation from The Elders. Photo: Ali Moustafa/Getty Images
She added that it is “shocking that the world hasn’t stopped to reflect on this and deal with it immediately.
“With the immediate ceasefire that’s on the table, with the immediate release of hostages, with the immediate steps to bring the food and the medicine in that is piled up.
“There is piles and piles of food, medicine, wheelchairs, generators, all waiting to go in. It is shocking and being there was quite devastating, actually.”
Mrs Robinson travelled to the Rafah Crossing – the southernmost point of exit from Gaza bordering Egypt’s Sinai peninsula – during the summer and recalled the “silence” there, saying it was stark and dreadful.
She was strongly critical of US president Donald Trump.
Mrs Robinson said that “we must get it through in particular to President Trump. Maybe the way to get through to him is that he can actually help make peace, because it all ready to happen. The people of Israel want it.
“They are coming out in their thousands to have a cessation of violence, a peace accord and a release of hostages.”
Mary Robinson criticised Benjamin Netanyahu and his ‘extremist’ government. Photo: Reuters
She believes that the European Union should suspend its trade agreement with Israel to put pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu and his “extremist” government.
Ireland has demonstrated leadership, and she called on other countries to recognise the state of Palestine.
She said she would not comment on the proposed Occupied Territories Bill in Ireland as a former president.
“I would particularly like to see the European Union step up. The European Union can do far more than any other grouping by suspending the pillar of preferential trade for Israel under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. And that alone would be a cost to the government and people of Israel.
“It’s the extremist government that I blame for this unfolding genocide, not the people of Israel as a whole because they are largely traumatised by what happened on October 7, 2023, and the taking of hostages,” she said.
“France, an important G7 country with Canada and the United Kingdom, but also Portugal, Belgium – other countries are recognising Palestine. All of that is important.”
She added that all the essential elements that are necessary for peace are already drawn up, including the “cessation of violence, and reconstitution of Gaza en route to two-state solution”.
Mrs Robinson will attend the United Nations general assembly in New York later this month, meeting with leaders from the Middle East and Europe.
“This is not the fault of the UN,” she said. “This is the fault of a bad prime minister, of an extremist government, prime minister Netanyahu, and a bad president of the United States who is supporting him and who is complicit in this unfolding genocide.”
Mrs Robinson, who is the daughter of two doctors from Ballina in Mayo, becomes the eighth recipient of the Stearne medal.
Previous recipients include Lady Valerie Goulding (1979), Princess Margriet of the Netherlands (1992), Dr Catherine Molloy (2005), Mr Albert Reynolds (2006), Dr Stanley Roberts (2007), Professor T J McKenna (2014), Petr Skrabanek (2018), and Dr Anthony Fauci (2024).