Timely release of state papers is crucial

Ever since 1991, the release of the state papers has become an annual ritual for the Irish media. Prior to that, they had to look to state papers being released in Britain, or the US to get information on what was happening in this country.

For views on the early years of Irish independence, historians had to rely on the reports of American, British, and French diplomats based in Dublin.

The reports of Alfred Blanche, the French consul, were regarded as an invaluable historical source after their release in 1972, but that was largely because Irish state papers had not yet been opened to journalists or historians.