Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair for the invitation. As the new Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, I am delighted to have the opportunity to meet the committee today. I acknowledge the work of my predecessor, Deputy Heather Humphreys, who commenced this Bill and adopted a highly proactive and energetic approach to this brief. I look forward to serving as Minister and working with all the stakeholders involved in these important sectors. I will listen with interest to the input of committee members here today and to the various issues raised. I would also like to thank committee members for their contributions and for their support for the draft Bill.

The purpose of this Bill is to commence the reduction from 30 years to 20 years of the time limit for the deposit of departmental records with the National Archives. The proposed legislation will allow for the early release of records if a Cabinet Minister and I, as Minister with responsibility for the National Archives, agree that the early release of the records in question is warranted by virtue of the historical or public interest value of the records or to facilitate fair reporting of matters of common interest to the State and other jurisdictions.

The National Archives, as we know, is one of the State's most important cultural institutions and it plays an essential part in the cultural life of the country by collecting, managing and preserving the public record of Ireland. The records held by the National Archives document the historical evolution of the Irish state and the creation of our national identity.