asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the importation of indecent literature into the Saorstát; whether with a view to combating the evil effects of such undesirable publications he will consider the advisability of appointing an Official Censor to deal with the imported Sunday and weekly newspapers, etc., or the setting up of a Commission to consider and submit a scheme to provide against the importation, circulation and sale of such publications and periodicals which may be deemed to be undesirable.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - IMPORTATION OF INDECENT LITERATURE.
Under the existing law there are ample powers to deal with the sale and distribution of obscene literature. It is an offence to sell or expose for sale any obscene book or paper, and Justices are empowered upon its being shown to their satisfaction that there is reasonable ground to believe that any such obscene book or paper is kept in a house for sale or distribution to issue a warrant to search such house. As I understand the Deputy, however, his question relates to books and papers which may not come within the legal meaning of the word "obscene," but which may be considered hurtful to morals when read by certain classes of the community. I think he uses the word "indecent" in a very wide sense — giving it much the same meaning as "undesirable," a word which he also makes use of in his question. If I am correct in this assumption I am afraid that there are serious difficulties in the way of the State interfering to enforce a censorship such as the Deputy requests. In the first instance, it would be difficult to prescribe the standard of desirability or undesirability. This would appear a matter more for public opinion than for an official or officials appointed by the State. Again, it would be physically impossible to censor at the time at one's disposal all the papers which might arrive in the port of Dublin on any given Sunday morning. On the whole, I am not yet satisfied that the State can usefully interfere to decide what the public may or may not read with propriety. However, I am prepared to set up a small Departmental Committee to consider and report on the proposals of those who think that a practical remedy may be found.