Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 Dec 1983

Vol. 102 No. 8

Adjournment Matter. - Video “Nasties”.

Mr. A. O'Brien

The production of video cassettes has opened up a new field of entertainment, amusement and recreation for people. In all fairness, it must be said that some of the video cassettes are amusing and harmless and some might even be educational or cultural. I want to draw attention to a type of video cassette being distributed that gives great cause for concern. My special reason for putting down the motion at this time is that, as Members of the House will know, a Private Members' Bill has been introduced in the British House of Commons calling for strict curbs on the distribution and sale of certain types of objectionable cassettes. What worries me and other Members of the House is that when that Bill becomes law in Britain — as it most certainly will, because it has support from all sides of the House of Commons — the distributors of these objectionable cassettes might attempt to cut their losses by dumping them here. For that reason, it behoves us to be on the alert to see that such objectionable articles are not dumped on us, with dire consequences.

I emphasise the serious view that the British House of Commons took in the matter. I read today some of the Hansard Report which is available in the Library. Before the discussion took place on 11 November 1983 a private showing of some of these objectionable videos was put on in the House of Commons and Members of the House were invited to attend so that they would get a clear comprehension of what the Bill aimed to remove from society. What these people saw was so revolting that quite a large number of Members of Parliament got up and left. Those who left could hardly be described as squeamish Holy Marys. One of those who stayed on is reported as having said that his reason for staying on to the very end although he felt that the whole thing was objectionable and repulsive, was to put himself in a position to be able to fathom, with some degree of accuracy, the depths of depravity to which human nature can fall.

These objectionable video nasties depict unrestrained violence, sexual abuse, mutilation, murder and even cannibalism. Such cassettes appeal to the lowest elements of human nature. They are produced and sold by unscrupulous people who know that there is always a certain market for that type of material. These video nasties may fall into the hands of young people, who are exposed to that terrible trend and there is a very real danger that this exposure to horrible, repulsive things might warp these young people's outlook. It could, indeed, permanently damage their view of adult life. Imagine the effects on a young mind of being regularly exposed to scenes portraying brutality, rape, murder, torture and mutilation. I would ask Senators to reflect for a moment on the consequent effect on that young mind and the part that these objectionable films might play in warping that mind for the rest of that person's life.

An eminent consultant child psychiatrist recently said that frequent exposure to acts of violence appears to raise people's tolerance and allow them to become blunted to increasingly high levels of violence. That opinion of an eminent consultant made an impression on me, and I would ask Members to think over it.

I took an extract from the Hansard Report on the proceedings of the House of Commons on 11 November 1983, column 535. A Member said in the debate: "An illustration of the impact of videos was given this week by the Lord Chief Justice in Cambridge. He referred to some crimes that came before the courts and said that their commission could be traced back to the availability of pornographic and horrific literature and recordings." I make an appeal that we be vigilant in this matter and take whatever measures are necessary to ensure that these horrifying, revolting videos are not imported into this State.

Mr. McMahon

I am glad that Senator O'Brien has brought this matter to the notice of the Seanad. I am a bit taken aback that he has asked us to be vigilant for fear that these "blue films", as they are known, would come into our midst. Regretfully, I have to inform Senator O'Brien and, indeed, the Seanad generally that they are long since in our midst. I came across them in my constituency more than two years ago. Some of these unscrupulous people, as he describes them, are operating not only in my constituency but throughout the city generally. It is now quite a lucrative business. I discussed it with the Garda and others who might be in a position to do something about it, but it appears that very little can be done. In some instances, they are operating not from business premises but from private residences.

I know in particular of one gentleman who makes quite a business out of renting out the video film and the machine for showing it. He goes around the housing estates on Tuesdays and Fridays, collecting on a Friday the video that he rents out on a Tuesday and giving out another. I did not realise that this matter was coming up for debate or I would have had more facts and figures relating to it, because I went to the trouble of finding out how much it cost. It was something like £7 to rent video recorder and about £2.50 to rent a film for three or four days. That film does the round of several houses on that housing estate where groups of people as young as ten years of age view them. It is a very serious matter, and one to which very little attention has been given.

It is generally felt that we have laws here to prevent this kind of thing happening. I do not know to what extent we have such laws or to what extent they can be enforced. Certainly, I am convinced that these films are here in our midst and freely being viewed by young people. Not only pornography is involved, but the advertising of drugs and drink, about which we had a debate earlier this afternoon. The drink problem starts with the video films which are being rented out. I understand that a "blue" film is brought into this country by whatever means and then recorded on to tapes. As many as 20 or 30 tapes can be produced from the one film brought in. There is no knowing the amount of damage that this is doing. I do not know what action the Minister can take, but I do know that it is high time that some action was taken and that the existing laws are brought into effect to ensure that the people who are doing this kind of thing are brought to justice and that this practice is ended.

There are many parents in my area and, indeed, throughout the length and breadth of the city who are extremely worried. Those are the people who know what is going on, but in many other instances where it is happening the parents do not know, because the teenage parties are so organised that it is done on nights when the parents are not there. I do not want to put it on the records of this House but I can give the Minister instances where these films are now being delivered each Tuesday and Friday to people who have organised themselves into groups to receive them, to show them and then to pass them on to neighbouring houses where the youngsters gather in groups of six, eight, ten and sometimes more. The age that I have come across of children viewing them is as low as ten. I would like the Minister to be aware that very many parents are concerned about it, and would like to see some action being taken to ensure that this practice does not continue.

Minister of State at the Department of Justice (Mrs. Fennell)

I am well aware of the problems posed by the availability of objectionable videos and at the public concern caused by their availability. As the Minister for Justice stated recently, and again in reply to a written parliamentary question on Wednesday, 30 November 1983, he is having the adequacy of the law for the control of such video films examined as a matter of urgency, so that decisions can be taken on new legislation or administration measures which may be taken to deal with the problem. Objectionable videos are causing widespread concern in other countries also. The video recording films have been introduced into the British House of Commons recently. On 23 November 1983, a report was published in England dealing with children's viewing patterns of videos in England and Wales. The report is part of a research project sponsored by parliamentarians in England. The overall theme of the research is "Video, Violence and Children". Two further reports on the topic are to be issued in January and March next. The January report will deal with children's viewing habits and parental attitudes and the March report will deal with the effects of video violence upon children.

Members of the European Parliament are also concerned about the problems posed by objectionable videos, as is illustrated by the following extract from the June 1983 edition of Community Report:

Alarmed at the wave of pornographic and violent video cassettes flooding the market, a group of Christian Democrat MEPs is calling for the establishment of a European Inspection Office to screen out material potentially harmful for young people. Video recorder sales are booming, they say. In the German Federal Republic it is estimated that by 1986 every second or third household will have one. The trade says that nearly 45 per cent of all video cassette sales are horror, war and action films, with pornographic films taking 12 per cent of the market. The horrified MEPs say that in some films pregnant women are hacked open alive with pickaxes, or live victims are nailed to doors to make it easier to decapitate them. The MEPs say they don't wish to decry individual media or new technology, but want the excesses curbed. They have asked the Commission to start an immediate inquiry into the lack of restraint in video material and to look into the legal options under the Treaties of Rome of combating the problems by community action.

One of the aspects of the video film problem being examined by the Department of Justice is the relevance of the censorship legislation to videos. The relevant Acts were drafted prior to video films being available. Accordingly, the question of whether video films come within the scope of the Acts has to be decided. In this context, I should mention that recently there have been some convictions for the display of uncensored video films in public places.

My Department are in consultation with the Revenue Commissioners about the problem of importation of objectionable video films. The commissioners have power, under the Customs Consolidation Act, 1876, to prevent the importation of "indecent or obscene prints, paintings, photographs, books, cards, lithographic or other engravings, or any other indecent or obscene articles". Customs officials have been seizing an increasing number of video films at point of entry in recent years in accordance with their powers under this 1876 Act. The Garda are also being consulted concerning the video film problem. Recently, gardaí in each division have been asked to supply any relevant information which they may have. I expect that this information, when correlated, will give a better view as to the details of the video film problem, its prevalence and the geographical areas where it is acute. As Senator O'Brien said, there is a very considerable degree of opinion being expressed that violent crime — and particularly rapes and other crimes against women — may be linked with the availability and the influence of video films that degrade women in the name of entertainment.

There is one other area on which I wish to comment. That is the responsibility of parents in relation to video films being watched, purchased or hired by their children. Parents may not fully realise how objectionable some of the material on video film is. The extract from Community Report that I mentioned earlier gives some idea of the content of these films. It is difficult to get across in the written word, however, the visual impact of these films and the realism that can be achieved in a film of this nature. Some of the scenes depicted are said to have had a sickening effect on some adults who viewed them. The effect on children who are likely to be more impressionable because of their youth is likely to be even much more severe. There is a possibility that children will be seriously upset by watching these films. There is also the more serious possibility that they may become more tolerant of violence and sadism. I have no doubt that the vast majority of parents would not allow their children to watch the material in question had they any idea of the absolute depravity and obscenity shown in some of the videos now available. I feel that it is worth appealing to parents to make sure that they know what type of video films are being watched by their children. They should find out what type of films are being bought or hired by them, presuming these would be older children. However, even if they do that and do succeed in censoring their own children's viewing, those of us with children experience the extreme difficulty of knowing what standards prevail in other people's homes — the homes that one's own children may visit in. Unscrupulous people are making money out of a totally objectionable video trade, and one way to discourage their activities would be to reduce the amount of money being spent on the hire and purchase of these films.

In conclusion, I would like to assure the House that I am having the adequacy of the law on the control of objectionable videos examined as a matter of urgency, so that decisions can be made on new legislation or administrative measures which may be taken to deal with the problem. I can assure the Members that I have a personal interest and commitment to this. There is no doubt that videos are an undesirable development and, accordingly, I am confident that everyone — politicians, public officials, the Garda and parents — who has any influence in the area will play his or her part in ensuring that the menace is ended.

The Seanad adjourned at 8.22 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 21 December 1983.