Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Recent legislative changes in the United Kingdom provided new arrangements for public access to the archival records of government after 20 years, not 30 years, as had previously been the case. In Ireland the National Archives Act, 1986 provides for the preservation of official Government records, their transfer to the National Archives and release to the public. When enacted, provision for public access was similar to the arrangement in the United Kingdom, that is, records became eligible for release when 30 years old, subject to certain exemptions.

The new 20 year access rule in the United Kingdom is to be implemented over a ten year period, which commenced in 2013. When the 1983 official records of the Irish Government were released in January 2014, the UK National Archives and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland had released the 1983 and 1984 official records together. Both bodies will release further records in this manner over a ten year period until such time as all records that are 20 years old or more will be accessible to the public.

I recently established an interdepartmental group to consider the current status of the National Archives Act and the implications of moving to a 20 year access rule. The group comprises officials from my Department, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Justice and Equality, the National Archives, the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the President. The group has met on a number of occasions and is expected to submit its recommendations in the coming weeks, following which I anticipate bringing a memorandum to the Government for consideration.

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