asked the Minister for Justice if he has taken notice of recent publications inciting persons to interfere with or prevent free public meeting and in particular of the issues of "An Phoblacht" dated 15th and 22nd October, in which it is urged that free speech and freedom of the Press must be denied to "traitors and treason mongers" and, if so, if he will state what steps he proposes to take to prevent such incitement.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Interference with Public Meetings.
I rarely think it worth my while to take notice of anything appearing in "An Phoblacht" or in the "United Irishman"—generally speaking I regard both of them as discreditable and futile. However, I have read the issues of 15th and 22nd October referred to, and have shown the Deputy's question to the Attorney-General. It is not thought necessary to institute any proceedings in reference to them, but as I informed the Deputy on the 27th of October, the police may be relied upon to secure order at public meetings.
Do I understand from the Minister that nothing will be done to stop the printing of incitements such as these: "Free speech and the freedom of the Press must be denied to traitors and treasonmongers?"
A Deputy
Quite right.
The circulation of these two Party organs, both of them, to some extent, apparently, advocating disorder, is very small. Great publicity is given to matter contained in these publications by the question put by the Deputy and by questions of a similar nature.
Will the Minister then say whether his notice has been drawn to the following statement in to-day's "Irish Press":
Free speech was governed by certain conditions, one of which was that no Party advocating foreign domination was entitled in any country to misguide the people.
In view of the fact that the statement was made by one of the Minister's colleagues on the opposite benches, and therefore gets a wider appeal and more respect than anything from these publications, are not such statements, in his opinion, calculated to incite persons to disturb public meetings, and what action will the Minister take to stop such incitements.
The supplementary question does not arise out of the question on the Order Paper nor out of the reply given by the Minister.
Is the "United Irishman," which is the official organ of the Labour Party, to be regarded as a discreditable publication?
Is Deputy Morrissey so far away from Labour principles that he does not know the name of the Labour paper?
He thinks that Cumann na nGaedheal is the Labour organisation.
Are we to understand from the Minister that this paper, "An Phoblacht," is entitled to publish anything it likes and is to have complete immunity from prosecution?
Was not Deputy Blythe the original author of such statements?
Has the Deputy seen in some of the English papers last week——
That has no connection with the question on the Order Paper.
Has the Minister nothing to add to his answer to me?
I should like to ask Deputy Norton, has the "United Irishman" ceased to be united?
In the interest of public order, and to avoid the dangers of public disorder, I should like to ask the Minister again has he nothing to add to his answer to my question?
I should like to ask the Minister whether he is aware that armed bands of men have been drafted into different towns in my constituency recently?
What is the Minister for Justice doing about it?