asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will consider seeking the co-operation of the British postal authorities to prevent the use of the postal services by firms (names and addresses supplied) who are distributing in this country indecent printed matter from an English base.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Indecent Printed Matter.
107.
The matter referred to by the Deputy has come under notice and action on the lines suggested has already been taken.
I did not hear the Minister's reply, thanks to Deputy O'Donovan and Deputy Enright. Would he repeat it?
With respect, the matter that has been raised on Question 106 is a matter of some importance.
Acting Chairman
There were eight supplementary questions on it and that was important enough. Another question could be put down if the Deputy requires further information. Would the Minister repeat the reply for Deputy Moore?
The matter referred to by the Deputy has come under notice and action on the lines suggested has already been taken.
I wonder could the Minister be more specific in this matter and tell us what action is being taken? I feel that whatever the action has been it has not been very effective.
The Deputy and the House are probably aware that the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs has the authority to detain any postal packet suspected of containing contraband goods and to forward this packet or packets to the customs authorities who are empowered, as well, under this section of the Act, to open the packet, in the presence of the person to whom it is addressed or, in his absence if he fails to attend after notice to do so has been sent to him. Where objectionable material is sent the customs authorities can hold on to the packet and if they find that the contents of the packet are contraband they can prosecute the person to whom it is coming. I understand the Department of Posts and Telegraphs got in touch with the publishers of these books which Deputy Moore mentioned in his question, and asked them not to send this particular book to this country because, I understand, they had been sending unsolicited advertisements for the book to addresses in the country and were embarrassing quite a number of people. I further understand that about 150 copies of this book were detected in the post and referred to the customs authorities.
The other problem the Deputy has is slightly more complex as the book in question was not banned at the time. We have not detected any copies of that book coming through the post. None of them has come to our notice. However we did get in touch with the British Post Office advising them on the position and asking them to take whatever action is practicable in accordance with the Universal Post Union Convention. They advised us that, in practice, the most they can do is inform the firms concerned that such material is not admissible in the post for this country. I understand one of the publishers has told us they will desist from sending unsolicited advertisements to people in this country and will not send the book in.
Is the Minister aware that one of these firms is supplying this material unsolicited? It is the product of the sick mind. It is embarrassing to the people in the city and the country who are receiving these things. I have copies of them. They are the product of a very sick mind. Perhaps the Minister would consider sending the name and address of the owner of this firm to the British Ministry of Health, in order to have the man treated.
A constant watch is being kept on material of this kind.
Would the Minister suggest that one of the Deputies should deal with this matter? It is positively indecent to have Deputy Moore intruding on Deputy Joe Dowling in this matter?