asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that works of fiction have been published by the Government Publications Office, containing (1) flattery of politicians still active in politics in Eire, and (2) prayerful aspirations by characters of fiction that the shipping of friendly nations may be consigned to the bottom of the sea; and, if so, whether he will take steps to ensure that such matter will not in future be published with the Government Publications imprint.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Books Issued by Government Publications Office.
I have had the works of fiction published with the Government Publications imprint scrutinised and I am assured that any references in them to persons still active in politics in Eire are not of such a kind as to justify dissatisfaction. If references to living persons are made which are deemed to give rise to reasonable objection the offending matter can be suitably dealt with. I do not consider it necessary to issue an injunction forbidding authors to introduce living politicians into their works.
As regards the second part of the question it is true that in a certain book published under An Gúm there is a passage containing an aspiration of the kind mentioned. This passage must, I suggest, be taken in relation to the time and the circumstances to which it refers, i.e., those of over 25 years ago when the character in the story was a political prisoner in the hands of the British. The reference must, therefore, be regarded as being of purely an historical nature and as having no bearing on the circumstances of the present time.