Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 157: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the recommendation of the Justice Archives Advisory Group that records in his Department which are more than 30 years old should be transferred to the National Archives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30638/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I can inform the Deputy that my Department has always taken its obligations under the National Archives Act, 1986 very seriously, including of course the general obligation to transfer records that are over 30 years old. The Act does, however, provide that certain records which are over 30 years old may nevertheless be withheld from transfer on grounds specified under the Act. These grounds would have applied in respect of a range of sensitive records held by my Department.

I was concerned, however, that the long- term effect of withholding records from public inspection, done quite legitimately under the criteria set out in the Act, would be to exclude documents of genuine historic value from public scrutiny. Indeed, this was a concern shared by the senior officials in my Department.

Accordingly, I appointed an Archives Advisory Group in February, 2006, comprising of a number of eminent historians and academic figures, with Professor Mary Daly as Chairperson, to advise me on the historical value of these records and how access to them might be facilitated. The Group concentrated, initially, on records relating to National Security and Northern Ireland matters up to 1956. It submitted its first Report to me on 25 September and amongst its conclusions has recommended that these 50 year old records should be transferred to the National Archives over the next 12 months.

I have accepted this recommendation and look forward to receiving further reports on the Group's work.