What was contained in the 2025 release?
In the 2025 annual release of State records, there were 41 series of records transferred to the National Archives, comprising nearly 12,000 files.
Currently, the finding aids are available in hardcopy format in our Reading Room. Our archivists are diligently working to upload these finding aids into the online catalogue, however due to the volume of material, we anticipate this process will take approximately 2-3 months to complete.
Records released include:
– 30-year old records mainly dating to 1994 from a variety of departments and scheduled bodies
– Anglo-Irish records relating to the peace process and Northern Ireland, including the Good Friday Agreement, from mid-1990s to December 2004, from the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Justice and the Office of the Attorney General
– Minutes of the meetings of the Government for 1994
Issues covered
The files shed light on significant social issues, including:
– Bertie Ahern overruled objections to continue weapons purchases from Israel despite strong reservations from the then minister for foreign affairs, David Andrews
– Mary Robinson was blocked by the government from taking up a UN role in 1993, as it was believed it would conflict with public expectations of her role as president
Russian ambassador was embarrassed by Boris Yeltsin’s no-show at Shannon Airport, which was a significant news story in 1994
– A priceless moon rock from the Apollo landing, initially displayed at Áras an Uachtaráin, was destroyed in a fire at the Dunsink Observatory in 1977
– The revelations in 2003 that Freddie Scappaticci, head of the IRA’s internal security unit, was a British spy, “traumatised” Sinn Féin, according to Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair
The State Papers also reveal insights into various historical events and personalities, including the IRA ceasefire in 1994, the Catholic Church’s turmoil due to paedophile priest scandals, and international reactions to Irish political actions.
Highlights covered in the media
During our media preview journalists selected highlights from the releases for coverage in the national media and press. The stories can be viewed online:
– State Papers: What we learned, from details of Boris Yeltsin’s Shannon no-show to Ireland’s lost moon rock – The Irish Times
– The Irish Times view on the State Papers: new light thrown on the peace process – The Irish Times
– Day One: What have we learnt from the State Papers? – RTE News
– Six more things we learnt from the State Papers – RTE News
Podcast coverage
– What do the 1994 State Papers reveal? – The Irish Times
Transfers included in the 2025 annual release
Department of the Taoiseach
– Central registry files, 1994 (2024/5/1 – 470)
– Northern Ireland Division registry files, c1978 – 2001 (2024/28/1 – 58)
– Northern Ireland Division registry files, c1991 – 2003 (2024/130/1 – 55)
Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, HQ
– Central Registry files, 1994 (2024/52/1 – 624)
– Secretary’s Office files, 1994 (2024/51/1 – 29)
– Anglo-Irish files, mainly dating to 2002 (2022/49/1 – 708)
– Anglo-Irish files, mainly dating to 2003 (2023/10/1- 403)
– Anglo-Irish files, mainly dating to 2004 (2024/71/1- 398)
DFA, Irish missions abroad
– Embassy of Ireland to the USA, Washington, DC, c1931-1960 (2022/25/1 – 1027)
– Embassy of Ireland to Germany, 1966 – 1993 (2023/56/1 -46)
– Permanent Mission of Ireland to the UN, New York, mainly dating to 1993 (2023/60/1 -180)
– Consulate General of Ireland to the USA, New York, mainly dating to 1992 – 1993 (2023/61/1 – 4)
– Perm. Rep. to the EU, Brussels, 1970 – 1993 (2023/74/1 – 151)
– Embassy of Ireland to the UK, London, 1992 – 1994 (2024/57/1 – 8)
– Embassy of Ireland to the Holy See, mainly dating to 1990 – 1994 (2024/64/1-12)
Department of Justice
– Civil Law Reform Division, files mainly dating to 1989 (2019/150/1 – 102)
– “H8” series: Prisoner files, 1922 -1926 (2023/130/1 – 1135)
– Weights and Measures, 1962 – 1983 (2024/106/1 -15)
– Film Censorship, 1923 -1999 (2024/108/1 – 10)
– “Hawkers”, 1934 -1954 (2024/109/1 – 3)
– Tribunals of Inquiry/League of Nations Advisory Committee, 1948-1977 (2024/110/1- 5)
– Charges against the Army, 1922-1929 (2024/111/1 – 76)
– Security & Northern Ireland Division, 1997 – 2004 (2024/112/1 -17)
Department of Communications
– Atlantic Satellite construction, 1984-1989 (2024/33/1 – 4)
– Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
– Irish Language Division, 1957-1988 (2018/48/1 – 58)
Department of Finance
– Compensation (personal injuries) claims files re 1916 – 1920s (2022/28/701 – 4291)
– Compensation (personal injuries) claims files re ‘Bloody Sunday’ Croke Park, Dublin, 1920 (2021/92/1 -22)
– Finance series files opened in 1920s (2023/86/1 – 8)
– Finance series files opened in 1990s (2023/84/1 -2)
– Civil Service Census files, 1924 – 1950 (2024/121/1 – 30)
Department of Health
– Psychiatric care “L” series files, 1942-1988 (2023/91/1 -16)
– Institutional Health Services “A” series files, 1943-1993 (2024/74/1 – 120)
– Health Bill, 1969 (2024/75/1- 14)
– Pharmaceutical services “M” series, 1971 – 1986 (2024/94/1- 7)
Department of Transport
– Air Navigation Services Division, 1951 – 1976 (2023/145/1 – 32)
– Air Navigation Services Division, 1960 -1979 (2024/98/1 – 48)
Office of the Attorney General
– ‘SR’ (subject-related advice) files, 1994 (2023/174/1 -1808)
– ‘PC’ (Parliamentary Counsel) files, 1994 (2023/175/1 -81)
– Anglo-Irish files, 1999 – 2004 (2023/176/1 – 2)
Office of Secretary General to the President
– Registered files, c1990-1993 (2024/104/1/1 – 254)