Over two million documents from redress bodies to be sealed in National Archives

More than two million documents from the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, the Residential Institutions Redress Board, and the Residential Institutions Redress Review Committee are to be transferred to the National Archives and sealed for 75 years.

Minister for Education Joe McHugh announced on Thursday that the Government had approved the necessary legislation at a Cabinet meeting this week.

The Retention of Records Bill 2019 provides for these historically significant documents from the three redress bodies concerned to be preserved.

Approximately 1,400 complainants gave evidence to the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse ’s investigation committee. Representatives of 18 religious congregations, which managed residential institutions for children, also gave evidence to that committee.

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The commission’s confidential committee heard evidence from 1,090 people and, as of the end of 2017, the Residential Institutions Redress Board had made awards following hearings to 16,650 people.

Timeline review

An amendment, requested by Minister for Children Katherine Zappone, is to be inserted into the Bill which will allow for a review of the timeline on releasing the files 25 years after it becomes law.

This means a future government could make changes on when the documents become available for public scrutiny.

Mr McHugh said retention of the records was “essential to ensure that we never forget the abuse that was perpetrated against innocent children in institutions and that future generations can be made aware of and understand what took place”.

“We must learn from the past,” he said.

Mr McHugh noted that the Bill was required to strike a balance between the original confidentiality provisions around the work of the three redress bodies and the need to preserve records for future generations.

“Seventy-five years is a very long period of time to restrict access to records but it is essential given the sensitivity of the material,” he said, adding that he was “acutely aware of calls from survivors that the abuse they suffered never be forgotten.

“The Bill is designed to ensure that,” the Minister added.