asked the Minister for Justice whether it has been reported to him that a group of persons called on the management of certain picture houses in Wexford last week with the result that certain intended screenings were cancelled, and if he will state whether he has caused any inquiry to be made into the matter by the police.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cancellation of Film Screening.
The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.
Will the Minister say why, in view of the happenings in the City of Dublin, and complaints of similar happenings in Wexford, and throughout the country, he has given no instructions to the Guards to pursue enquiries in these cases?
I cannot pursue enquiries and the Deputy's question does not suggest that. People are quite entitled to approach anyone in an orderly manner. I do not know if they have done that. The Deputy's question does not suggest that any intimidation was used and, in the absence of that, I do not see what obligation there is.
Do I understand the Minister to say that persons who have organised this movement throughout the country are perfectly entitled in an intimidatory way to approach persons in charge of picture houses and to warn them not to show certain pictures?
That is not the point.
Is it not a fact?
I am talking about Wexford to which the Deputy's question relates.
Has not the Minister seen newspaper reports showing that in numerous parts of the country such calls have been made on the proprietors or managers of cinemas, and does he not consider, in view of what happened in the Savoy cinema, that it is absurd to pretend that such calls were not of an intimidatory character? Does he not consider it to be the duty of the Government to instruct local Superintendents of the Guards to make enquiries as to the identity of the persons making such calls?
The Deputy may rest at ease that it is not the duty of the Minister to give instructions to the Guards if intimidation is used. The Guards do that in the ordinary way.
Is it not desirable, even if unnecessary, that the Guards should be told it is their duty to try to identify such persons?
Is not the Minister aware that there was intimidation against picture houses some months ago, as a result of which an illegal organisation succeeded in making a law of its own effective, namely that the National Anthem must be played, and, as a result of the enforcement of this illegal law of an illegal organisation the Government had to pay £1,000 to a man who claimed to own the copyright of the National Anthem?
This question relates to Wexford and is confined to what is stated to have happened in that area.