Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 May 2001

Vol. 537 No. 2

Written Answers. - National Archives.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

73 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the steps she will take arising from the concerns expressed in the recent report of the National Archive Advisory Council that the trend towards privatisation in the semi-State sector makes the need for an archival policy for such bodies of critical and pressing importance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15727/01]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

In its recently published report for 1999, the National Archives Advisory Council expressed the view that the trend towards privatisation in the semi-State sector makes the need for an archival policy for such bodies of critical and pressing importance. I have been conscious of this issue and have discussed our shared concern directly with the National Archives Advisory Council.

Following our discussions a delegation from the council met the Secretary General of the Department of Public Enterprise in March 2000 to discuss this and other related matters. The response was positive, and the Department of Public Enterprise has set in train an examination of the state of the records of State-sponsored bodies that operate under its aegis.

I welcome this initiative by the council and the Department of Public Enterprise.

With regard to bodies that have been privatised, I am advised that Eircom has recently approached the National Archives with a view to transferring its older records to it.