asked the Minister for Defence if he will give a list of the names of the books and periodicals prohibited from circulation here during the war period (1939-45) by the former Minister for Co-ordination of Defensive Measures under the Emergency Powers Act, 1939, and the Orders made thereunder.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prohibited Books and Periodicals.
It is not my intention, in fairness to the periodicals concerned, to designate those prohibited from circulation here during the period mentioned by the Deputy. The total number of daily newspapers prohibited during that period was two, whilst seven weekly publications and four monthly publications were also prohibited. In addition, particular issues of two weekly papers and one periodical were prohibited from circulation. A prohibition Order was not made in regard to any book.
I could not hear the first part of the Minister's reply. Will he be kind enough to repeat it?
I said it was not my intention, in fairness to the periodicals concerned, to designate those prohibited from circulation here during the period mentioned by the Deputy.
I see. Is the Minister aware of the interest such a list of books and periodicals would have for future historians of this period? It is entirely from that point of view that I consider such a list would be valuable and I ask the Minister, from that point of view, would he be prepared to give the names of such books or periodicals? If so, I would be quite prepared to accept a written answer.
It will be preserved in the Departmental records. That is all I can promise.
Is the Minister not prepared to make them public?
No.
I understood the Minister to say that there was no Order made prohibiting any particular book from coming into the country in those years. Will he say by whom a prohibition Order was issued to prevent a book called The German Reich and the Catholic Church or The Third Reich and the Catholic Church from coming into the country?
I cannot add anything to the statement I have made in reply to the question asked by the Deputy, that a prohibition Order was not made in regard to any book.