asked the Minister for Justice if he will indicate the constitutional provisions referred to by him in reply to Question No. 59 on 28th February, 1951, which would be infringed by a censorship of harmful anti-national propaganda contained in films released for distribution in Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Film Censorship.
The constitutional provision referred to is contained in the first part of Article 40 of the Constitution of which the effect is to limit the power of the State to impose a censorship except in so far as such censorship may be necessary for the purposes referred to therein. I make no suggestion and no suggestion was made that the censorship of harmful anti-national propaganda would be unconstitutional if such propaganda were calculated to undermine public order or morality or the authority of the State.