The media will continue to have access to the Official files for 1978 from Tuesday 2 December to Thursday 4 December 2008 inclusive.
Some of the main issues covered in the files are: -
·Anglo-Irish Economic cooperation, future political developments, prison protests, and the economic activities of paramilitary organisations.
·The Central Secretariat files for 1978 include a series on cross border economic cooperation, reports on the SDLP conference, government plans for the political way ahead, and meetings between the British and Irish governments.
·The security situation, policing, prisons, political developments, economic situation, housing and fair employment.
The files are being released under the rules governing access to such records and all papers have been reviewed in accordance with Freedom of Information and Data Protection legislation.
Media representatives will be given an opportunity to examine the files in advance of their release to the public on the strict understanding that there is an embargo on publication or broadcast until 00.01 on Tuesday 30 December 2008.
The files will be available for public inspection from 30 December 2008 at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, 66 Balmoral Avenue, Belfast, BT9 6NY, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Fridays from 9.00am to 4.45pm and on Thursdays from 10.00am until 8.45pm.
Media enquiries to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Press Office, Tel (028) 9025 8901 or email press.office@dcalni.gov.uk
