The State's entire military archives, including original witness statements, voice recordings and photographs from 1913 to the present, are to be made available to the public, the Taoiseach announced last night.
The national archive and Department of Defence records, some of which have never been on public display, are to be housed in a new facility at the National Museum at Collins Barracks.
Mr Ahern was speaking at the launch last night of the new Bureau of Military History at Cathal Brugha Street Barracks. The bureau, which includes historical material from 1913 to 1921, will be housed at Cathal Brugha Street until such time as the new facility has been built.
An interdepartmental group had been established to speed up the opening of the new facility, Mr Ahern said. "It is my earnest hope that this initiative will lead to a more secure future for this important part of our national heritage."
The material gathered by the bureau will be available to the public. The collection includes archive material from the foundation of the Irish Volunteers in 1913, the 1916 Rising, the first Dáil and the War of Independence.
