asked the Minister for Justice whether his attention has been drawn to statements reported to have been made by Dublin cinema owners and managers on 21st July regarding the desirability of a graded system of film censorship in this country, and criticising the present censorship system; and whether he will now consider the possibility of introducing such a graded film censorship system which would give a clear indication as to which films were suitable for children and which for adults only.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Film Censorship.
33.
I have seen the report in question. I do not accept that any recent decline in cinema attendances can reasonably be attributed to a system of censorship which is in operation for over 30 years, especially as it is well known that there is a similar decline in other countries.
In any event, I could not agree that a decline in attendances should cause us to lower our standards of censorship which is obviously what is in question here, though I do not, of course, suggest that that is what the Deputy has in mind.