David Norris (Independent)

I was not going to intervene at this stage but I welcome the fact that Senator Walsh has opened up discussion on this matter. I am chairman of the Friends of the Library association in Trinity College and I take an interest in archives. We have a fine national archive and there are archives in the National Library. In addition, an important social archive was delivered to the National Library on Bloomsday. I did not agree totally with its name, which is the Irish Queer Archive — I would have preferred the Irish National Gay Archive — but the material is very important historically. RTE — and other stations, but principally RTE because it is our national broadcasting corporation — should be encouraged by all means possible to retain significant items. I think with great grief of some of the things that have been wiped in the past, such as the superb performances by the late Marie Kean, who was one of the finest actresses this country has ever produced. Most of her work is gone, simply because someone wanted to record something else on top of it. That is a shame. I welcome anything that encourages the national broadcaster to retain material for future generations. There is a public interest in this regard. RTE has been broadcasting a series — I am not sure whether it is over now — called "Reeling in the Years", in which it used archival material going back to 1962. We saw what was happening in that year — or at least a selection of what was happening — and fascinating it was.

This is a very good provision and I commend the Minister on its inclusion. I hope it will send out as strong an encouragement as possible that a proper archive be maintained, not just for us but for future generations.