Six files were withheld from the National Archives on security grounds, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said. He said a total of 724 files were released for public inspection in January under the 30-year rule.
However, he added that on the Attorney General's advice two files relating to the case taken against the British government for the ill-treatment of Northern Ireland internees, were withheld under the 75-year European Court of Human Rights rule.
The others were withheld on the grounds of public interest, information obtained in confidence, distress or danger of defamation. "In practice, most of the files withheld concern personal security matters."
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny asked if it was true the files were withheld partially because there were persons living who might be affected by the consequences of their release.
Mr Ahern said that even the names of most of the files were not given because that would be too much information. "Not many files are withheld every year - between five and nine files each year in recent times - and most relate to people in Northern Ireland who wrote to the taoiseach of the day with information.
"While the files come under the category of public interest information obtained in confidence, distress or danger, they all relate to the security situation." Martin Ferris (SF, Kerry North) referred to files on the 1976 Sallins mail train robbery, and "the subsequent framing of people for that raid". He asked if any files "relating to the operation of the heavy gang" were withheld.
Mr Ahern said no files relating to the Sallins robbery were held in his department. They would have been Garda files or files held by the Department of Justice.
Asked by Dan Boyle (Green Party, Cork South Central) about the files which were withheld, Mr Ahern said he was not involved in the process, which was conducted by authorised officials. "I do not have control over the staff of the National Archives who do a good job in assisting historians and members of the public in accessing records."
Mr Ahern said he knew from officials that they made every effort to ensure documents were released in their entirety where possible.
