asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures whether he is aware that in a newspaper controversy on the subject of economies in the public services references by a member of the Dáil to possible economies in the Army and Gárda Síochána were deleted: and, if so, whether he will state if these references were deleted (a) on the instructions of the Censorship Department, or (b) in compliance with regulations issued by that Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Newspaper Correspondence Deletions.
The answer to the first part of the Deputy's question is in the negative. I am, however, aware that in a letter which the Deputy recently addressed to the Press the censor deleted a passage which it would be grotesque to describe as a reference to "possible economies in the Army". The matter was deleted by the Censorship Department as being a contravention of the directions issued by the Press censor pursuant to the provisions of the Emergency Powers No. 5 Order, 1939, and, indeed, the action taken in the present instance was calculated to save the Deputy, and the newspapers which might publish his statement, from the consequences of a prosecution for seditious libel.