Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 49: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if, with reference to his Department's circular number 20 of 1998, dealing with the classification of material by Departments as top secret, following upon a Government decision that the classification top secret should in future be applied to particularly sensitive material which, because of its nature or content, should receive only very limited circulation, other Departments have in the years since 1998 undertaken a formal review at Assistant Secretary level, of the amount of and necessity for material classified as top secret, on a regular basis at a minimum of once a year as required by his Department's circular; the outcome of those reviews; the actions taken as a result of those reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31863/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Circular 20/98 deals with the classification of material as "top secret" and, inter alia, requires individual Departments to decide on the classification, necessity and amount of their own "top secret" material and to provide for formal reviews in this regard at Assistant Secretary level. Accordingly, the responsibility for carrying out reviews on their own material rests with Departments themselves. The outcome of such reviews and action taken as a result of them is a matter for individual Departments. I would like to advise the Deputy that my Department is reviewing this matter and a revised circular will issue at an early date.