Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together.

The evaluation of files for release to the national archives is carried out by designated officials in my Department. It is normal, as files are processed for release each year, that some are certified by the appropriate officials for retention on the grounds set forth in the Act. Under section 8(6) of the National Archives Act 1986, provision is made for the review of closed records at five-yearly intervals from the date the certificate to withhold the records is made. My Department complies with its statutory obligation in this regard.

A total of 721 files or file parts were transferred to the national archives to be released for public inspection on 1 January 2009. Some 12 files were withheld, of which one was withheld under section 8(4)(a) of the Act and 11 were withheld under section 8(4)(b) and (c).

As regards the 1978 Northern Ireland files, 85 files were released and no files were withheld. Some 61 files were released without any abstractions, while 24 files contained documents which were either abstracted or had partial abstractions made on them. In total, 177 entire documents were abstracted from 22 files and partial abstractions were made on 21 documents from seven files. Abstractions were made under section 8(4)(a), (b) and (c). The abstractions related to information given in confidence, including security information and certain personal information about individuals. The majority of the documents were withheld because they contained personal information.

There was a larger number of Northern Ireland documents, 112 in total, abstracted this year in comparison to last year due to the large number of correspondence on five files containing personal information relating to people arrested, detained or in prison. The documents were mainly letters from relatives of prisoners and statements by prisoners, medical reports, reports of confidential conversations between Irish officials and contacts in Northern Ireland and letters or notes containing personal information or confidential material.

See this speech in context