asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that children have been admitted to showings of the film Summer of the Seventeenth Doll; and what action he has taken in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Admission of Children to Film Showing.
9.
Mr. Ryan
I am not so aware. If the Deputy has evidence to justify his statement, may I ask him either to place the evidence in the hands of the Garda Síochána himself or to advise his informants to do so. It may be, of course, that he has already done that but, as the Question does not specify where the offence is alleged to have taken place, I am not in a position to make any inquiries in regard to the matter.
Mr. Ryan
It is unfair to call upon a Deputy to act as a common informer but, in a town not 20 miles distant from this House, I, with my own eyes, saw about two dozen children in rows specially reserved for children at a showing of the film in question. In view of the Minister's statement when I raised this matter last year, would he not take steps to ensure that the Garda in any town where this film is on show would take the appropriate steps to ensure that children are not attending it in breach of the licence given by the Censorship Appeals Board?
The Garda cannot be put on the doors of cinemas where this applies to decide whether a person is under or over 18 years of age. I am sure the Deputy does not suggest that they should be there. If the Deputy has any definite information in respect of any particular person and if he gives that information to the Department of Justice or to the Garda, it will be investigated.
Would the Minister say who decides to issue the notice that children under a certain age may not attend a film? Do the cinema proprietors decide that or the Censorship Board?
The cinema people. The people selling the tickets, I suppose.
Mr. Ryan
On an earlier occasion the Minister told the House that the Censorship Appeals Board had issued an order in relation to this film. The Minister also said on that occasion that steps were taken to ensure that the wishes of the Board were respected. It now appears that no steps have been taken in that connection except in relation to the first-run cinemas in the main streets of Dublin.