asked the Minister for Justice if he will consider the introduction of a system of censorship of films to ensure that only suitable films will be shown at children's matinees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Censorship of Films for Children's Matinees.
5.
I can only refer the Deputy to my answer to his question on 10th December, 1959, to which I have nothing to add.
I do not remember the reply the Minister gave in December, 1959. Would the Minister say at this stage if he has ever considered the idea?
The idea has been considered, yes.
The Minister rejected it?
No. The limited certificate actually operated on occasions when the censor felt we might have reason. Generally speaking, it has an adverse effect. The limitation of a film of that type is utilised for more or less advertising the film and getting a large number of people to come to see it.
I asked the Minister to do this for the guidance of parents. Is the Minister aware—I am sure he is —that in Britain there is a system whereby films are tabbed X, U and A? A film that is tabbed X is an indication to a parent that a child should not see that picture. The majority of parents act according to the certificate given and do not allow their children to go to these films. For the guidance of parents, the Minister ought to consider the introduction of a system whereby undesirable films for children would be recognised by parents.
Much will depend on the parent's point of view. Some parents may consider that a cowboy picture, for instance, is undesirable for their children to see because it contains a number of actions which are violent and which involve loss of life. Other parents would not regard such a film from that point of view. That is one of the big difficulties in respect of using parental viewpoints as a guidance.
Is the Minister not aware that there are many undesirable films—I do now want him to take my view—being shown at matinees where the audiences are exclusively child audiences?
Undesirable for children?
Undesirable for children.
Every films is censored and if there is anything undesirable in it it will not be shown. The point is: what is undesirable for a child?
Dracula.
Surely, the Minister is aware that the films appearing in cinemas are innocent compared with what can be seen on television?
The Minister may remember I directed his attention some time ago to the danger of a developing industry in what is commonly described as "horror films"? Would the Minister not consider Deputy Corish's suggestion that films in that category should be marked X or with whatever is a suitable mark, to advise parents in advance that while these pictures contained nothing offensive against public decency they are not the kind of pictures to which an impressionable child can properly be sent, particularly unaccompained by parents? If you go with your child to a film which is unsuitable, you can walk out and, however reluctantly, you can drag the child out with you, but if you send the child to a film to pass the afternoon and it proves to be unsuitable, he comes home and retails the whole contents and leaves you with your hair standing on end. You have no means at all of knowing the character of the film in advance and in light of that aspect, I think the Minister should consider Deputy Corish's suggestion.
It has been considered by every predecessor of mine from time to time and this is not the first time this question has been asked. The same answer has been given on former occasions. The question of horror films is a matter for the film censor and I am pretty certain the censor is dealing with his work and dealing with it, I would say, effectively.
But he is censoring exclusively for an adult audience and he should have a specific direction to censor films in accordance with the type of child audience that attend matinées. I would appeal to the Minister to reconsider this position and see what further information he can get on it with a view to evolving some such system.
We can look into that.