Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 July 2012
72 Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are any sensitive and embargoed papers or materials relating to the peace process held in Boston College or other American universities that should be returned to Irish jurisdiction to protect the terms of their confidentiality. [35151/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue of the files transferred to Boston College by the Independent International Commission for Decommissioning is an issue which has been addressed by my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality. The archived interviews held in Boston College in the context of the Belfast Project have been the subject of legal proceedings under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between Britain and the United States. These archives are the property of Boston College.
All original material created in Government Departments are filed on appropriate Departmental files. Under the terms of the National Archives Act, 1986 Departments are obliged to make an annual transfer of files and other records which are 30 years old or more to the National Archives, subject to the exceptions provided for in the Act.
