The Department of Justice is to open up restricted archives to academic researchers, the Minister has announced.
An archivist will be appointed from within the Department before Easter, and a group of prominent academic figures will be appointed to advise Mr McDowell on the best approach to take to opening up the confidential records.
Already a substantial proportion of the records of the Department are transferred to the National Archives after the 30-year time limit has elapsed. However, about 15 per cent are withheld every year on security grounds. While certain records may still remain confidential if they contain sensitive information, Mr McDowell said he intends to allow greater access to the historic archives to bona-fide researchers.
"Ever since the Department was established in 1922, its work has had an important impact on people's lives," according to a spokeswoman.
"The Minister is conscious that the documents and records of the Department are of particular interest to historians, sociologists, academic researchers in many disciplines and many others."
Accordingly, he has directed the Department to draw up proposals to facilitate access for academics and scholars to confidential historic records held by the Department that are more than 30 years old. These proposals will be drawn up in consultation with the expert group of academics to be appointed.
While certain documents may remain restricted, Mr McDowell wants to facilitate the maximum possible access to all documents over 30 years old, according to the spokeswoman.
These would be made available to researchers on the basis of individual application to the Department and would not be generally available to the public, she added.