asked the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defensive Measures if he will state whether the publication of the Wolfe Tone Annual, 1944, which is published by Brian O'Higgins, has been prohibited by the Controller of Censorship; if so, if he will state the grounds on which such decision was made, and whether he is now prepared to permit the publication of the Annual, which has appeared regularly since 1932, and consists in the main of quotations from, and historical records of, leaders of Irish Nationalism.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Censorship of Annual.
The answer to the first part of the Deputy's question is—yes. In regard to the second part, it is not proposed to release the Annual for publication, as it contravenes the Emergency Powers Order, 1939. It contains much more than quotations from historical records; it attempts to destroy the unity which Tone sought to establish and to justify the use of violence against the State established by the Irish people under the Constitution freely enacted by them, and freely changeable at their will; it does this at a time when it was never more necessary for Irishmen not to dissipate their energy in internecine strife, but to stand shoulder to shoulder in disciplined comradeship in order to defend the national territory which has been liberated, and to hold it as an earnest of the re-union of all our territory.
Is the Minister aware that, in the whole of the Annual, there is no reference to any topical subject—neutrality, the Constitution or the Government—and does he suggest that, under our Constitution, even expressions of opinion on national topics should be censored?
I take it from the Deputy's supplementary question that he has read the Annual in question.
Very carefully.
Is the Deputy standing over a sort of permanent revolution?
Is the Minister prepared to say what is objectionable in the Annual?
I am asking the Deputy a question.
The powers given the Minister by this House were powers of censorship, not of suppression, and, while protecting the country by exercising those powers, it is the duty of the Minister to justify their use. As an ordinary matter of courtesy, when a publication is submitted to which objection is taken, a request is made to have the objectionable portions altered.
The powers of censorship were given to the Government to see that national security would be defended in the present world emergency. That is all I am doing.
Is the Minister prepared to indicate the portions of the Annual which are deemed objectionable and, if these are changed, is he prepared to permit publication of the Annual?
If the publication is re-submitted to me and if it does not offend against the Emergency Powers Order, it will be passed.
Is the Minister prepared to indicate the parts which he requires altered?
Any reasonable person reading the Annual would see the portions which should be deleted.
Unfortunately, the Minister is not a reasonable person and will not indicate the parts which require alteration. I beg to give notice that I shall raise this question on the Adjournment as a matter of urgent, public importance, in view of the unsatisfactory reply of the Minister.