asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that children under the age of fourteen are permitted to enter Cinema Theatres in Dublin unaccompanied as late as 9 p.m.; that adults are allowed to associate with these children, and that there is no proper supervision; if he will state the number of charges which have been brought against persons for indecent criminal assaults on boys and girls in picture houses in the region of O'Connell Street, Dublin, and the number of convictions obtained during the period of two years ended 31st October, 1929.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Children In Picture Houses.
Licences for cinematograph theatres are granted by county councils and county borough councils under the Cinematograph Act, 1909. The councils have power to attach to the licences such terms and conditions as they may think necessary. The licences issued by the Dublin Corporation contain the following conditions relating to the admission of children:—
"No child of school-going age shall be admitted to the entertainments during school hours (viz., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
"No child under 14 years of age shall be admitted into, or permitted to remain on, the licensed premises after 9.30 p.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
"A separate portion of each part of the auditorium shall be exclusively reserved for children under 14 years of age who attend entertainments unaccompanied by parents or guardians."
The Corporation appoint officers to see that the provisions of the Act of 1909 and the regulations thereunder are observed.
In addition to their own officers the Corporation also authorise members of the Gárda Síochána to act as Inspectors of Cinematograph Theatres. In the last two years 540 visits have been made by members of the Gárda Síochána to theatres in O'Connell Street and the vicinity. Any breaches of the regulations were reported to the Corporation.
During the past two years one complaint was made to the police regarding an indecent assault on a girl in a picture theatre, an arrest was made and a conviction secured. The theatre in this particular case, however, could scarcely be said to be in the region of O'Connell Street.