asked the Minister for Justice if he will introduce legislation to amend the Censorship of Publications Acts so as to give the Censorship Board adequate powers to stop the indecent literature at present circulating freely in this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Censorship of Publications Acts.
I do not propose to introduce legislation to amend the Censorship of Publications Acts nor do I accept the implications in the Deputy's question.
Is the Minister aware that periodicals of a type approaching the obscene are being freely circulated throughout the country? Does the Minister tell me that the powers of the board are adequate or inadequate to deal with that matter?
I am satisfied that they are adequate. From my own personal experience the board is working smoothly, effectively and efficiently. These are the qualities that I have been looking for in the board and now that I have got them I do not propose to interfere with them.
Can the Minister say if it is true that three copies of any particular issue must be issued before it can come to the notice of the board and if, even after a decision is taken to ban a periodical, the three issues which contain obscene matter are still free to circulate and to be purchased and do not come under the ban?
They cannot freely circulate if they are banned.
The three copies that come to the notice of the board are still allowed to remain on sale and it is even possible to purchase back numbers because they were not banned.
I am satisfied that the board has all the powers necessary to deal with a situation of that kind.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will state in respect of the Censorship of Publications Board and the Appeal Board (a) the number of members on each board, and (b) the number which constitute a majority.
The information sought is set out in the clearest possible language in Sections 2, 3, 11 and 12 of the Censorship of Publications Act, 1946, to which I would refer the Deputy.
Could the Minister say if it is a fact that a minority of the two boards can out-vote a majority decision of the two boards?
If three members vote for banning and one against, the book is banned. But if three vote in favour of banning and two against, it is not banned. That is in accordance with the Act.