Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for facilitating my Commencement matter on the need for the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to release the 1926 census records. Access to the 1901 and 1911 census returns for the entire island of Ireland has been available for public research for around 50 years. The digitisation of the 1901 and 1911 census returns by the National Archives has provided a wonderful national heritage resource, which is freely available via the Internet. Its phenomenal success has greatly increased the interest among members of Ireland's diaspora in their ancestral links to Ireland.

Cabinet papers are made available after 30 years and they frequently contain sensitive material which can make or break reputations and provide a fuller picture of how Government operated at the time. Could we accept a situation in which some material in our census is classified and other material is not as happens with some police records where examinations are made of what may or may not be released? I would like to hear what the Minister of State has to say on that point.

A period of 100 years is too restrictive. Back in 1993 this issue was discussed in the Seanad Chamber and I think it was Senator Manning who noted that the most turbulent period in modern Irish history ensued in the years following the censuses of 1901 and 1911. The outbreak of the First World War, in which around 49,000 Irish men were killed, occurred in 1914. The Easter Rising was in 1916 and the First Dáil met in 1919. There is a black hole in our memory. I have a Bill that would allow for the release of the census. It would give special heritage status to the 1926 census and bridge the gap in our records covering this very important period from 1911 to 1926. What is the likelihood of the Department being up for that? Would representatives from the Department have conversations with us on that likelihood?