Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I would be more comfortable if the Minister were to identify a substitute individual. I mean somebody from within the State institutions who could take on the role that I have suggested for the Information Commissioner.

The Minister is right that the records will be released within 30 years. However, the Bill as it currently stands leaves significant political decisions to be made about whether the documents will be released after 20 years. The 20-year rule changes the nature of a document to a certain extent as it brings it into the likely timespan of an existing politician. If a document is released in the space of 20 years there is a good chance that the document to which the information pertains will relate to a Minister who is still a sitting Deputy. There is no doubt in my mind-----