Richard Bruton
Question:28 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if his Department has discovered the missing files requested by the Moriarty tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13852/98]
Priority Questions. - Moriarty Tribunal.
On 16 December 1997, the Tribunal of Inquiry (Payments to Messrs. Charles Haughey and Michael Lowry) served on order for production on me, as Minister for Finance, relating to documents pertaining to the operation of exchange controls in the years 1954 to 1993 inclusive. This production order also covered the Central Bank. The Central Bank was delegated responsibility for the day to day operation of exchange controls with effect from 3 May 1965.
This order did not specify any particular file or document and required that all documents be produced.
When the order for production was received, I immediately wrote to the Governor and authorised the Central Bank to take all the steps necessary to comply with the order. I also directed my Department to ensure that all relevant documents should be produced and that every assistance should be given to the tribunal. The process followed by the Department in relation to the production order was one which was adopted in consultation with legal advice, with a view to offering the maximum assistance to the tribunal.
Despite the most strenuous efforts on the part of the Department, it has not been possible to locate some of the files listed on the Department's register of files relating to the operation of exchange controls for the period in question. A listing of the files covered by the order for production together with a listing of those files which have not been located was forwarded to the Tribunal of Inquiry (Payments to Messrs. Charles Haughey and Michael Lowry) on 30 April 1998.
On 6 May 1998, in order to allay public concerns and having taken legal advice, I made public the list of files which have not yet been located. This listing gave the details of 130 files which have not yet been located and of 12 incomplete files. I also forwarded a copy of this list to the three main Opposition spokespersons on Finance. No further files have been located since this list was published on 6 May and the list remains valid. I have advised the tribunal that the files which have been located have been secured and remain available for inspection at its convenience and that officials of the Department of Finance remain at the disposal of the tribunal to assist it further.
During 1997 my Department had begun the development of a new computerised file classification and file tracking system, the purpose of which is to track the movements of files and identify their whereabouts at any given time. Work on this system is now well advanced and it is expected to be fully operational over the coming months.
The Office of Public Works is currently preparing plans for the upgrading of the Department's main file storage area in Government Buildings. It is hoped that this work, which will improve the storage and retrieval of files, will commence later this year.
In addition, the Department is currently in the process of engaging contractors to conduct an independent professional inventory of departmental files opened since 1948. The purpose of this inventory is to confirm the existence and whereabouts of all files opened over the past 50 years. This exercise, which it is envisaged will take about three months, will include the transmission to the National Archives of those files which should have been archived previously.
I am confident that these measures will significantly improve existing filing standards in the Department.
Has the Minister abandoned the search for the 130 missing files?
No. Staff in the Department continue to pursue all avenues but so far no further files have been found.
Is he confident that none of the files has fallen into the wrong hands, so to speak, and that whatever their whereabouts, the public need not be concerned in that regard?
In the detailed statement I issued some time ago, I gave a list of all the files, their reference numbers and the list of missing files. The list included the dates on which the 130 missing files were originally registered, which were 107 in 1954-1959, 11 in 1960-1964, four in 1965-1970 and eight from 1971 on.