asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that the issues of "An Phoblacht,""The Workers' Voice," and the "Irish Worker," dated November 14th, were confiscated by order of the Military Tribunal on the grounds that each was seditious; and if he will state specifically on what grounds each of the issues of the publications mentioned was considered to be seditious.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Seizure of Newspapers.
Tomás O Maoláin
I am aware that the issues mentioned were declared seditious by the Constitution (Special Powers) Tribunal, and that any copies found by the Gárdai were thereupon seized as authorised by Article 2A of the Constitution.
As regards the second part of the Deputy's question, I have no information to give the Deputy, except that contained in the Tribunal's Orders, viz., that in each case the Tribunal, after perusal of the issue in question, considered it to be seditious.
Will the Minister state whether there is any way in which an ordinary citizen of the country engaged in journalistic or printing or publishing business can get an indication of what is seditious or not, or whether we can get from any authority a definition of the word seditious by the Tribunal?
I do not know that the word "seditious" should cause the Deputy or his friends any difficulty. It means anything that tends to disturb public order.
I have got a copy of the "Irish Worker" here, and if the Minister would tell me definitely what specific portion of that paper is regarded as seditious, or an attempt to disrupt public order, I shall be satisfied; or if he would indicate that he intends to prosecute those who wrote for this and those who wrote for the other two I will be satisfied. Could the Minister not give an indication of what ie seditious in any of those issues?
The Deputy has read the paper, I understand, and that being so, he can use his own intelligence.
What is in this paper is purely anti-Imperialistic. Am I to understand that it is considered seditious to preach an anti-British or anti-Imperialistic propaganda?
Anything, as I stated, calculated to disturb public order in this country is sedition, no matter who the seditious person may be.
Does the Minister mean to insinuate that an appeal to ex-Servicemen not to be deluded into war is seditious? That is all that is in this paper.
No reply was given.
This is a further proof of the wash-out of this place.