asked the Minister for Justice if he will make arrangements for the appointment of a Committee of Members of the Dáil to investigate the complaints of the film trade, and to make recommendations that will enable censoring of films to be carried on in a place and in a manner satisfactory to the trade and public alike.
WRITTEN ANSWERS. - FILM TRADE COMPLAINTS.
Mr. O'HIGGINS
I assume that the complaints of the film trade referred to by the Deputy are those concerned with: (1) import duty on films; (2) fees charged by the proprietors of the Dame Street Bonded Stores for bonding services; (3) entertainments tax; (4) arrangements and charge for censorship.
(1) and (3) are Revenue matters with which my Department is not concerned; (2) is not a Government matter at all. There is no obligation on film importers to utilise the Dame Street premises as a bonded store, just as there is no obligation on importers of tea to bond in any given bonded store. All that has happened is that the Revenue Commissioners on application have approved of the Dame Street premises as satisfying their requirements for a bonded store. The fees charged for bonding are not fixed by any Government Department. They are entirely a commercial matter.
As regards (4), I have to refer the Deputy to a long statement which I made to the Dáil on the 5th March last arising out of questions addressed to me by Deputy Hewat and others. I explained in that statement what arrangements had been made for censorship, and how they had been made. I also said that if experience proves that lower fees will suffice or cheaper arrangements for censorship can be made the contract with the Irish Bonded Film Store, Limited, will not be renewed when it expires.
In these circumstances, I am unable to see what useful purpose could be served by appointing such a committee as the Deputy mentions. Does the Deputy suggest that the contract already entered into should be broken?