Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 Dec 1991

Vol. 414 No. 1

Written Answers. - Film Censor's Office Staffing.

Seán Barrett

Ceist:

92 Mr. S. Barrett asked the Minister for Justice if additional staff have been allocated to the official censor to enable him carry out the additional duties imposed on him as a result of the Video Recordings Act, 1989; and if he will confirm that the enforcement of the Video Recordings Act, 1989 is not being prevented as a result of lack of staff.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Burke)

Earlier this year I made orders under the Video Recordings Act, 1989 which enable the film censor to grant licences to wholesale and retail video dealers and to prohibit the supply of pornographic videos. Additional staff were made available to the censor's office to deal with the extra work arising from those measures.

I propose to make a further order and regulations in the coming months to enable the film censor to examine all new videos intended for supply and also to commence the systematic examination of all videos already on the market. Further additional staff will be required by the censor to assist him with the extra work which will result from this order and I am making arrangements to ensure that this staff will be made available to the censor as required.