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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Censorship Laws.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

1367 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the near closure of an exhibition by an internationally acclaimed artist in the Butler Gallery, Kilkenny, due to a complaint by a member of the public to the Garda Síochána, who felt that there might be a breach of the Censorship Act, which raises the possibility that art works and film and video may need the approval of the censor and this may have wide-ranging and serious implications for the Arts Council, IMMA, art galleries and schools throughout the country; if he will consider the British model when reviewing the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16084/02]

I am informed that the incident referred to by the Deputy relates to the showing by an artist, as part of his exhibition, of a self-portrait on video, the content of which was considered by some of the visitors to the exhibition to be indecent or obscene and at least one of whom made a complaint to the Garda in this regard.

The exhibition in public of any moving picture or video, unless it is an exempted supply, requires certification by the official film censor.

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