asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures whether internal correspondence between private citizens of the State is subject to censorship.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Censorship of Correspondence.
The answer is in the negative.
Is the Minister aware that private correspondence within this State has been censored without any explanation being given to the recipient of the letter? I can show the Minister the letter. It came from a place near Limerick and was addressed to a citizen in Sutton, County Dublin. It was censored and no explanation or apology was given.
It occasionally happens that such a letter may be mixed with foreign mail that has to be censored. Possibly that is how it came to be censored.
Does the Minister not think that some note of apology ought to be put in?
I think that should have been done. If the Deputy will give me the envelope I shall have inquiries made.
I will give the letter to the Minister.
Are not letters going from one communist to another censored?
Why should the private correspondence of some Deputies be censored? My correspondence is always censored.