National Archives Act, 1986

Regulations, etc.

19.—(1) The Taoiseach, after consultation with the Director, may from time to time make regulations in relation to all or any of the following matters:

(a) the management and work of, and the services to be provided by, the National Archives,

(b) the transfer of Departmental records to the National Archives,

(c) the disposal in accordance with this Act of archives and Departmental records,

(d) the admission of persons to inspect archives and to use any facilities provided by the National Archives,

(e) the reproduction and publication of archives and extracts from them,

(f) the authentication of copies of and extracts from archives,

(g) any other matter necessary to give effect to this Act.

(2) The Taoiseach may from time to time by regulations, made with the consent of the Minister for Finance, fix the amount and manner of payment of fees for services rendered, and for the use of facilities provided, by the National Archives, and may authorise the remission of fees in relation to such class or classes of services as may be specified in the regulations.

(3) The Minister for the Public Service, after consultation with the Director, may make regulations—

(a) for the proper management and preservation of Departmental records in the custody or care of a Department of State, and

(b) fixing standards in relation to the copying of such records by photographic, micro-photographic and other processes, and providing for the authentication and preservation of such copies with a view to the disposal of the originals of such copies.

(4) For the purpose of their disposal, originals of records copied in accordance with regulations under subsection (3) may be destroyed on the written authorisation of the Director and the disposal of such records shall be carried out in a manner which ensures that their confidentiality is not affected and that their contents are not ascertainable.

(5) Every regulation made under subsection (1) or (3) shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the regulation is passed by either such House within the next subsequent 21 days on which that House has sat after the regulation is laid before it, the regulation shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.