Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Records.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

175 Mr. Quinn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her Department has a corporate policy, a departmental strategy and an electronic document and record management system in place in connection with electronic records; the system in place to preserve electronic records for the future; and if this system allows for the easy searching of records in order to comply with the requirements of and the implementation of the Freedom of Information legislation and the relevant National Archives legislation. [22828/03]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

A standardised function based filing system was introduced throughout my Department in advance of the commencement date of the Freedom of Information Act in April 1998. Records received and maintained in my Department are normally paper-based, and are maintained on paper files which are themselves individually registered and tracked on a computer-based electronic system. Where electronic records are received, corporate policy demands that a hard copy is printed and maintained on file. The existence of a function-based system ensures that records are easily identified and recovered when required.

All and any records are fully maintained in accordance with both the requirements and implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, and the relevant National Archives legislation.