Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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574. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for a list of books and periodicals currently banned by the Censorship of Publications Board; when such items were last reviewed; the reason for their prohibition and the next scheduled review or expiration of their ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15659/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Censorship of Publications Act, 1946, provides for a Register of Prohibited Publications. The Register in respect of books is in two parts, and contains details of books which have been prohibited and when the notice was originally published in Iris Oifigiúil, which indicates when the prohibition came into effect.

Part 1 contains particulars of books prohibited on the ground that they were indecent or obscene, as per section 7(a) of the 1946 Act. The prohibition order in respect of any book named in Part 1 ceases to have effect on the 31st December following the twelfth anniversary of the date it was published in Iris Oifigiúil (if it is not revoked by the Censorship of Publications Appeal Board before that).

Part 2 of the Register contains particulars of books prohibited on the ground(s) that they were indecent or obscene and/or that they advocate the procurement of abortion or miscarriage or the use of any method, treatment or appliance for the purpose of such procurement, as per section 7(b) of the 1946 Act.

Part 3 of the Register contains a list of prohibited periodical publications. There are currently 264 publications on this list.

The current Register dates from 31 December 2016, and I will arrange for a copy to be sent directly to the Deputy.

On 21 November 2023, the Government approved the repeal of the Censorship of Publications Acts, following a review undertaken by my Department in my Department on the continuing need to have censorship provisions for printed publications. Preparatory work on the amending legislation has been undertaken and it is planned that this will proceed during the term of the current Government.

When the legislation is enacted, the Register of Prohibited Publications will be formally stood down.

The Register of Prohibited publications was last updated in 2016. The following book was on Part 1 of the Register:

It is important to note it would continue to be a criminal offence to possess or distribute the above book, even after repeal of the Censorship Acts, on the grounds that it contains child abuse material.

The following books were included in Part 2 of the Register: