Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

175. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the Retention of Records Bill 2019; if she will consider reducing the sealing period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19254/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The purpose of the Retention of Records Bill was to ensure that important records of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse and the Residential Institutions Redress Board are preserved for posterity, rather than be destroyed as is currently provided for in legislation.

However, as proceedings before both bodies were confidential, the decision to retain these records requires that a balance be struck between the important rights of those persons who engaged with the bodies, and the legitimate public interest in preserving the records. For that reason, the previous Bill provided that the records were to be sealed for a period of 75 years.

At a meeting of the Dáil Select Committee on Education and Skills in November 2019, a number of stakeholders, including survivors, academics and lawyers, expressed their view that sealing the records for such a lengthy period was excessive, and would prevent survivors from accessing their own records.

My Department is currently considering how best to balance the rights and interests of all of the parties involved, and following consultation including across Government, I hope to introduce an updated Bill to the Houses as soon as possible.