Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)

I am glad of this opportunity to raise this matter with the Minister of State. It arises on foot of the resignation from the board of the National Library of Professor Diarmaid Ferriter, as reported in this morning's newspapers. It is a matter of regret that somebody as genuinely publicly engaged as Professor Ferriter should choose this course of action. As a historian and member of the library's board, he has been involved in the important work on the centenary commemorations. The Minister of State is fully aware of its importance as well as being engaged in it. Amongst others, Professor Ferriter has been prominent in that area and will continue to be active. This may not be directly related to the issue I wish to raise, but it has some connection with it.

Professor Ferriter's resignation is regrettable and he has indicated that it is partly as a result of the funding issue, which is obviously frustrating. It has at least as much to do with what he described as the manner in which these issues appear to have been dealt with. I presume he has been quoted accurately in the newspapers. Professor Ferriter has referred to "offensive and disingenuous double-speak" as being a cause of concern to him. I do not know whether the Minister of State wishes to respond to that or if he has any knowledge about what Professor Ferriter is referring to.

Even allowing for some measure of hyperbole in that reference, however, it is of concern that Professor Ferriter felt it necessary to resign from the board of the National Library. There has been very little debate about the proposed merger of the National Library and the National Archives. It is worthy of debate, including in these Houses. Will the Minister indicate to the House what is the current state of play with regard to the proposed merger? We also need to debate the rationale for this merger because they are two separate and distinct institutions. That alone is not a reason for keeping them separate and it may be that there is a rationale for the merger. If one looks at the history of the National Library and the National Archives, however, it is clear that they have come from two distinct traditions and disciplines, and were established for different reasons.

Although I was very young in the mid-1980s - like the Acting Chairman, Deputy Durkan - I well remember the then Taoiseach, Dr. Garret FitzGerald, introducing the Bill to establish the National Archives. It was profoundly progressive legislation that was introduced by that Government, which has transformed the whole archival project in this country. The preservation of State records and other papers, as well as making them available periodically subject to different rules, was an immensely important achievement for this State going back 30 years. That work has been extremely important for us.

On the other hand, the National Library is an immensely important institution next door to us here in Kildare Street. It is held in worldwide respect and admiration for its connection to the works of many writers and scholars. It is a premier national cultural institution whose recent achievements include the Yeats exhibition and the National Photographic Archive.

However, the National Library and the National Archives are separate institutions, so I would like to know the rationale for merging them. We should debate that matter in this House. I note the Minister for Education and Skills has arrived in the Chamber. We had a debate yesterday on the amalgamation of particular agencies under his Department, and the rationale for those mergers was not simply based on cost. Everybody understands the necessity to make savings. It may not be the view of the Minister or his departmental officials, but simply because the National Archives and the National Library deal with documents is not, of itself, a reason to bang them together and produce a new institution.

There are different disciplines and requirements for holding archives than those the National Library must observe. The disciplines, requirements and parameters for making documents accessible are all different. We should debate precisely what is going on in this regard, including what the proposal is, where it currently stands and what the cost saving will actually be. Will there indeed be a saving in this proposed merger? The National Archives is under severe pressure of space to accommodate State records it is required to preserve. The National Library has its own pressures also, so will we end up saving anything?

We have two distinct cultural institutions, the identities of which should be maintained and promoted. If synergies can be achieved through storage or otherwise, let us do that. I remain to be convinced, however, as to the rationale or desirability of merging these two institutions.

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