National Archives Act, 1986

Functions of Director of National Archives.

4.—(1) In addition to those referred to in section 3 , the functions of the Director shall include—

(a) the control and management of the National Archives,

(b) the preservation, restoration, arrangement and description of archives in the custody of the National Archives,

(c) the examination and acquisition of Departmental records in accordance with this Act,

(d) the inspection and examination of arrangements for the preservation of Departmental records and, with the consent or at the request of the appropriate member of the Government, the examination of Departmental records,

(e) the giving of advice to a member of the Government and to any public service organisation on the management, preservation and reproduction of records under their control,

(f) the acquisition by purchase, donation, bequest or loan of any record or document, or of a copy of a record or document, appropriate for preservation by the National Archives and the observance of such conditions (if any) relating to such purchase, donation, bequest or loan as may be accepted by the Director,

(g) the preparation and making available of guides, lists, indexes and other finding aids to archives in the custody of the National Archives,

(h) the lending of archives by the Director, with the consent of the Council, to archival or educational institutions, libraries, museums, galleries, and other appropriate institutions and societies, whether in the State or elsewhere,

(i) the making and provision of copies and extracts from archives in the custody of the National Archives,

(j) the making available for public inspection in accordance with this Act of archives in the custody of the National Archives,

(k) the publication of archives, finding aids and other material relating to archives in the custody of the National Archives,

(l) the provision of such educational services as the Taoiseach may from time to time approve,

(m) such functions in relation to management of records as may from time to time be approved by the Taoiseach.

(2) The Taoiseach may from time to time assign to the Director such other functions as are analogous to or consistent with the functions specified in subsection (1) and any additional functions conferred under subsection (3).

(3) (a) The Government may by order confer additional functions on the Director, and may by order amend or revoke an order under this subsection.

(b) Every order made under this subsection shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the order is passed by either such House within the next subsequent 21 days on which that House has sat after the order is laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.

(4) In the event of the office of Director being vacant or of the incapacity or absence of the Director, the Taoiseach may authorise an officer of the National Archives to perform any or all of the functions conferred on the Director under this Act.