THE President, Mrs Robinson, will discuss her wish to become UN High Commissioner for Human Rights with the UN Secretary General in New York on Friday, amid cautious optimism that she will be appointed to the post.
Mrs Robinson will have lunch with the Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, who has said he will announce his decision on who should fill the vacant post in July. Mr Annan had talks in New York almost two months ago with Mrs Robinson's main rival for the post, the Costa Rican Ambassador to the US, Ms Sonia Picado Sotela.
No decision is expected to emerge from Friday's meeting, but sources say Mrs Robinson is likely to be given a clear indication as to how seriously she is being considered for the post.
Once Mr Annan makes his nomination in July, the UN General Assembly is expected to be asked to approve the nomination in September.
Mrs Robinson's candidacy has received a very positive response over the last two months, according to reliable sources.
Irish diplomats have made representations on her behalf in all world capitals in which Ireland is accredited in what has been the most extensive international lobbying campaign ever carried out by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Costa Rica has also carried out extensive lobbying on behalf of Ms Picado Sotela, who has considerable experience in the field of human rights.
The Latin American group of states is backing her, although this bloc is not in itself regarded as sufficiently powerful to exert a deciding influence on Mr Annan.
Mr Annan has the authority to nominate the new human rights commissioner to succeed Mr Jose Ayalo Lasso, who returned to his native Ecuador in March to become foreign minister.
The post is therefore less subject to international power politics than posts that are filled by the UN General Assembly, such as the Secretary Generalship.
Mr Annan's choice is still subject to the approval of the UN General Assembly, but that body would be highly unlikely to vote down Mr Annan's choice.
The former Finnish foreign minister, Ms Elizabeth Rehn, is also a contender for the post.
Ms Rehn also has considerable experience in the field of human rights, but sources say the diplomatic campaign on her behalf has been considerably lower key than that for Mrs Robinson and Ms Picado Sotela.
Under the headline "Irish President Favoured for UN Rights Post", the New York Times yesterday reported that President Mary Robinson "has become the leading candidate" for the position of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The newspaper quotes "diplomats and representatives of human rights groups" as its sources for the report.
It also says that "the appointment of Mrs Robinson, who appears to have the strong support of the Clinton Administration, would significantly raise the stature of the office which was created in 1993 in the face of criticism from a number of nations opposed to the expansion of United Nations activities in human rights".