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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Feb 1943

Vol. 89 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Press Censor's Functions.

asked the Minister for the Co-Ordination of Defensive Measures whether the Press Censor is authorised not only to delete paragraphs from copy submitted to him, but also to compel the inclusion of paragraphs drafted by him in published matter.

The answer to the first part of the Deputy's question is in the negative. The second part does not, therefore, arise.

Is it, or is it not, true that the Censor claims the right to compel newspapers to publish matter which he inserts in the material submitted to him for censorship?

Is it, or is it not, true that, on occasion, the Censor has required persons desiring to publish matter to publish it with additional paragraphs inserted by himself?

I say it is true. I have seen them.

I have indicated the procedure. If a newspaper submits an article which in the form submitted is prejudicial to the public safety, there are amendments suggested. It is free to accept them or not. The final judgment will be as to whether the article in its amended or final form when submitted to the Censor is or is not prejudicial to the public safety. If it is not, it will be allowed to be published. The Censor has never attempted at any time to say to a newspaper: "You must publish the article in those words."

He has said: "Unless you insert these words drafted by me in this article, the article will not be published at all."

No. Unless the article in its final form for publication is unobjectionable from the point of view of public safety, it will not be allowed to be published. A system has been adopted in order to facilitate the newspapers. An article may contain 2,000 or 3,000 words, but only a couple of words or a sentence which may be objectionable. If we were to follow the Deputy's suggestion, we would simply run the blue pencil through the whole 2,000 words, and not allow any part of the article to be published. In order to facilitate the newspapers, a system of consultation has been adopted, whereby newspapers wanting to publish the material part of any article can amend it so as to allow of its publication.

If they do not amend it in accordance with the amendments suggested by the Minister, the article will be censored and will not be published.

I have answered the Deputy's question fully.

Unless the stuff is put in, as amended by the Minister, and anything to which he objects deleted from it, the whole thing is censored.

It will be condemned as unbalanced.

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