asked the Minister for Justice what are the statutory provisions under which the names of all books banned by the Censorship of Publications Board are published; if he will take steps to amend these provisions to obviate the necessity for publication; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Publication of Titles of Banned Books.
73.
The Board is obliged by section 13 of the Censorship of Publications Act, 1946, to cause every prohibition order and every order of the Appeal Board revoking or varying a prohibition order to be published in Irish Oifigiúil. The Board is also obliged by section 16 of the Act to cause a Register of prohibited publications to be prepared and published and made available to the public and the manner in which this is done is provided for in regulations made by the Minister for Justice —Statutory Instrument No. 254 of 1946. The Register must contain the title of each prohibited publication and other identifying particulars.
I have no proposals for the amendment of the law as suggested.
A prohibited publication imported without a permit from the Minister for Justice is liable to be seized and it is an offence to sell or distribute a prohibited publication. It is obvious, therefore, that a duty is owed to the general public and to booksellers in particular to have particulars of prohibited publications made readily available.