asked the Minister for Justice why the novel, The Rains Came, by Louis Bromfield was banned from circulation 12 months after publication.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ban on Novel.
Mr. Boland
The novel in question was prohibited on the recommendation of the Censorship of Publications Board. A complaint against the novel was made to me under Section 6 of the Censorship of Publications Act, 1929, on the 15th of November, 1939. The complaint was referred to the board and on the 1st of December, 1939, the board reported that, in their opinion, the novel was in its general tendency indecent and should for that reason be prohibited. A prohibition order was made and was published in the Iris Oifigiúil on the 8th of December, 1939.
Then you had better make an order prohibiting all novels. I read The Rains Came and the devil a bit of harm I saw in it.
Mr. Boland
Is the Deputy prepared to go on the Censorship of Publications Board?
Maybe the Taoiseach read The Rains Came?
Will the Minister give an assurance that Ministers will be prohibited from seeing the picture, which is now being shown in Dublin?
The Minister had better prohibit all novels at that rate.