Maura Hopkins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome the Minister to the House. Through its work in managing and preserving all of the public records in the State, the National Archives is one of our most important cultural institutions. The archives allow people to maintain a link to our past. In addition, the archives contain information that is vital for policy making and research.

The reduction in the delay period of 30 years to 20 years for the deposit of State papers into the National Archives is very positive. It will allow us as Irish people to be more informed about events and decisions that were taken in the past and continue to shape our future. This Bill will bring us into line, as the Minister has said, with the 20-year rule that has been in operation in the UK since 2013. Given the close ties between our two nations and our mutual history, it is important that our files are released at the same time as those of the UK in order to allow people to be better informed. The Bill also allows for the early release of records if the Minister believes such documents should be released early due to a particular historical or public policy value.

The Bill complements other ongoing initiatives right across the country to improve our collective archival record. In that respect, I am very much mindful of a visit by An Taoiseach to the General Register Office headquarters, which are based in Roscommon town, when he was Minister for Social Protection . On that occasion, we met with staff involved in the digitisation of Ireland's civil registration records. It is an extremely extensive project involving such matters as the storage of records. It is extremely labour-intensive and requires a high level of skill and great attention to detail but it is very important work. We have a unique and varied history in this country and it is incredibly important that we learn the lessons of the past in the development of future policies.

I welcome the introduction of the National Archives (Amendment) Bill to this House. We should always strive for the greatest level of transparency possible. It is extremely welcome that the delay period for the release of State papers will now be reduced from 30 years to 20 years.