asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures if he will adopt in the Dáil a similar procedure to the one he has agreed to adopt in the Seanad for the censoring of Press reports, namely, to consult with the Ceann Comhairle or the Committee on Procedure and Privileges or with representatives of the principal Parties before censoring the Press publication of matters raised in the Dáil; and, if so, if he will state what method of consultation he will adopt.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Censorship of Press Reports.
The debate in the Seanad referred to by the Deputy arose out of the prohibition of the publication by the Press Censor of an entire proceeding of the Seanad dealing with a security matter. Should the necessity for similar action ever arise in regard to a Dáil proceeding, and it has not arisen in the last five and a half years, I shall be only too glad to consult with the Ceann Comhairle before finally deciding the matter.
Is the Minister intimating that the proceedings of the Dáil have not been censored during the last five years?
What the Minister said was that the necessity for censorship of an entire proceeding did not arise.
I would respectfully point out that it has arisen on many occasions. The proceedings of this Dáil have been censored from the public Press—proceedings which were reported in the Parliamentary Debates. I will give the Minister one example which I take because it is the most recent, not because it is in any way necessarily the most important. On February 1st, 1945, in this House, a Deputy mentioned a matter and it was reported in the Parliamentary Debates in column 2018, vol. 95. That matter, which had to do with the censorship in connection with the St. John Ambulance, was not mentioned in the following day's papers. It was censored out of them. That was on February 1st. The matter was raised again the following day by the same Deputy and it was reported.
I am afraid I cannot come to the conclusion that everything that is said here must necessarily appear in the daily Press.
Is the Minister not aware that the Chief Press Censor sent telegrams to newspapers prohibiting them from publishing a speech which Deputy Corish made in this House? I can produce for the Minister the telegram which the Chief Press Censor sent in respect of that speech. That clearly makes that reply inaccurate.
I do not think so. I will ask the Deputy to listen to the reply again:—
"... referred to by the Deputy arose out of the prohibition of the publication by the Press Censor of an entire proceeding of the Seanad..."
Read the rest of it. You are taking that out of its context.
No.
Of course you are.
I will read the whole thing, if you like:—
"The debate in the Seanad referred to by the Deputy arose out of the prohibition of the publication by the Press Censor of an entire proceeding of the Seanad dealing with a security matter."
What is the Deputy's point?
Read the rest of it.
Here it is:—
"Should the necessity for similar action ever arise in regard to a Dáil proceeding, and it has not arisen in the last five and a half years, I shall be only too glad to consult with the Ceann Comhairle before finally deciding the matter."
That intimates that the necessity has not arisen during the last five years. The censorship has been carried on in connection with the proceedings of this House apparently without consultation with anybody. I am asking that the Minister will do for this House what he said he would for the Seanad, namely, consult with the Ceann Comhairle, or with the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, or with the representatives of the leading Parties, before such a serious step is taken. In point of fact, every Deputy in the House is aware that on many occasions the proceedings of this House have been censored.
I am afraid the Deputy is running into particular matters and away from the general terms of the question. These things will have to be raised in another way.