Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Can the Taoiseach outline the process employed in making decisions to withhold files? The Act states that a Department may withhold a file if its transfer to the National Archives would be contrary to the public interest. Can the Taoiseach explain if there is a single officer entrusted with this assessment responsibility within each Department or whether there is wider consultation and if so, with whom? Does his Department have a specific overriding role? Is the Garda consulted? If criteria are laid down, have they ever been published? Would the Taoiseach object to publishing them so that we could all have a better understanding of how the process works?

In respect of the 12 withheld files mentioned in his initial response and their relationship to 1977 or previous years, has the Taoiseach, during his period in office, been aware of any of these files having a direct or indirect reflection on matters that would come under the broad umbrella of collusion between British state forces and loyalist paramilitaries, particularly their activities in this State 30 years ago and before then?

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