Vol. 468 No. 2
135 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice if she has satisfied herself that the legislation currently in place governing the renting of videos is working effectively; and the number of prosecutions in relation to this issue in 1995 and to date in 1996. [14773/96]
The legislation providing for the control and regulation of supply and importation of video recordings is the Video Recordings Act, 1989. The Act contains provisions (a) for the licensing of wholesale and retail video outlets; (b) that the Film Censor may, on grounds specified in the Act, prohibit the supply of video films which the censor considers unsuitable for viewing; and (c) for the classification of video films in terms of their suitability for viewing by different age groups. The various levels of control in the Act are being monitored as to their effectiveness.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that, in 1995, there were 33 prosecutions under the Video Recordings Act, 1989, with 6,706 video tapes seized. Comparable figures are not yet available for 1996.
