Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 1 March 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

National Archives (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion

2:10 pm

Photo of Fintan WarfieldFintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her presentation. She has said that "the proposed legislation will allow for the early release of records if the relevant Minister and the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs are satisfied that it is warranted by virtue of the historical or public interest value" of those records. Is that a new addition to the Bill? Is it not covered by section 8(1) of the National Archives Act 1986? Is the suggestion that these records should not be released unless the Minister is satisfied their release is warranted by their "historical or public interest value" a new provision? I will explain my concern. Who is anyone in government or in the State to say what is of "public interest value"? I wonder whether this is a new addition to the Bill. It would concern me if it is.

I am slightly concerned that allocations for the National Archives could not be increased to offer the resources needed in the context of this good move and this welcome Bill. I have spoken separately to representatives of the National Library who have called on Members of the Oireachtas to provide for a digital deposit that would allow digital materials to be archived. Will that form part of the copyright Bill that is due to come before the Oireachtas?

I ask the Minister to provide more details on the €8 million that is to be spent on developing the National Archives. Trinity College, UCD, the National Archives and the National Library, which has State responsibility for archiving, have argued that we need a greenfield site. It strikes me that we need a long-term and future-proofed archive location that is well fitted-out. This would ensure the bodies that are statutorily obliged to deal with archiving can do so and everyone can have easy access to the materials of the State. I would like the Minister to respond to my questions.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.