Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

On a point of clarification, my Department has four certifying officers at principal officer grade. Other Departments have similar arrangements. I do not know how many are in each Department but each Department has certifying officers. The names of certifying officers are published in the annual report of the director of the National Archives. They implement the Act and their powers are set out clearly in the Act. Any other issues about what is retained are also dealt with in the report of the director of the National Archives. There are no hidden details.

There is not a list given of the files held back because in many cases the name on the file would give the information. Most of the files held back are not recorded — they are recorded in Departments but not publicly recorded for that reason. Then there is the five-year look-back rule, where it might become appropriate to release these files. Overall, with the exception of Northern Ireland, there are very few files that have been held back. In regard to files relating to Northern Ireland, a total of 55 were released to the National Archives last year. Two files were withheld under the 75-year rule of the European Court of Human Rights, while 45 were released entirely without redaction. Most of the files are now being released. Redactions mainly concern names. I do not know what the two files are withheld under the 75-year rule.

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