asked the Minister for Justice whether his attention has been called to resolutions of local authorities urging that books and printed matter imported from abroad should be examined before being delivered, and to resolutions on the subject of an article which appeared recently in an English newspaper; and, if so, what action he intends to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imports of Books and Printed Matter.
I have received the copies of the resolutions referred to by the Deputy, but I am not in a position to take any action. The Censorship of Publications Act, which was the subject of the fullest discussion in the Dáil, provides that books and publications, other than those which are obscene or indecent on the face, and which could be excluded prior to the passing of the Act, must be submitted to the Censorship of Publications Board for examination before the Prohibition Order can be made. Section 7 of the Act contains the grounds on which a Prohibition Order may be made against a periodical publication, and an examination of that section will show that no action could be taken under the Act in respect of the article referred to by the Deputy as appearing recently in an English paper.
Mr. Doyle
If the matter cannot be dealt with from the point of view of the censorship, does not the ordinary law provide for punishment for the publication of such blasphemous articles as that referred to?
I desire to ask the Minister if he is aware that the proprietors of the paper actually discussed, calmly and deliberately, the article before it was published and circulated and, in view of that circumstance and of the fact that the Eucharistic Congress is to be held here next year, will the Minister now introduce amending legislation giving him the power to prohibit the sale of this paper in this country for ever more?
As to what happened in the "Daily Mail" office, I have no information at all. In answer to Deputy Doyle's question, you can take proceedings for blasphemous libel against newspaper proprietors who publish blasphemous libels, but you cannot take legal proceedings in this country against people who do not reside in this country. If you were to proceed against the newsvendors they would have a perfect answer, because they would be able to say that they did not know the contents of the papers they were selling. The papers are handed out, but not investigated by the newsvendors.
Will the Minister introduce amending legislation?
It is not my intention.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I shall raise this matter on the adjournment.