Govt opposes call to abolish censorship board

Friday 24 January 2014 12.45

The Government has opposed the Censorship of Publications Board Repeal Bill 2013, which was put forward by Fianna Fil justice spokesperson Niall Collins in the Dil this morning.

Minister for Communications Pat Rabbittesaid it was a complex and technical area and that the Government would examine the matter.

Mr Collins said the response from the Government benches was "regrettable"and said he did not believe the minister outlined reasons why the bill was being opposed.

The Censorship of Publications Board was originally established in 1946 to ban the sale or publication of controversial publications.

Its five-year term of office expired in November 2011 and the new board has not been appointed yet.

There were chortles on both sides of the chamber when Mr Collins said the Censorship Board has had no members since 2011.

He said it has only been relevant once in the past five years - when it received a complaint about Minister for Justice Alan Shatter's novel Laura.

TOP STORIES

Story Comments

See original here:
Govt opposes call to abolish censorship board