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Uimhir 23.
ACHT UM SCRÚDÓIREACHT SCANNÁN, 1923.
Oifig Scrúdóir Oifigiúil Scannán do bhunú.
1.—(1) Bunófar oifig Scrúdóir Oifigiúil Scannán.
(2) Beidh Scrúdóir Oifigiúil na Scannán ina chorporáid aon-fhir agus an ainm sin uirri agus síor-chomharbas agus séala aicí, agus fén ainm sin féadfa sí dul chun dlí agus féadfar dul chun dlí léi.
Scrúdóir Oifigiúil do cheapa.
2.—(1) Déanfaidh an t-Aire chó luath agus is féidir é tar éis rithte an Achta so agus aon uair is gá é ina dhiaidh sin, duine oiriúnach do cheapa chun oifig an Scrúdóra Oifigiúla, a bheidh i seilbh oifige ar feadh pé aimsir agus ar pé téarmaí a cheapfidh an t-Aire le cead ón Aire Airgid.
(2) Gach éinne a ceapfar chun bheith ina Scrúdóir Oifigiúil fén Acht so gheobha sé pé tuarastal no táillí a shocróidh an t-Aire Airgid.
(3) Aon uair a bheidh an Scrúdóir Oifigiúil ar feadh tamaill gan bheith ábalta ar aire do thabhairt dá dhualgaisí, no a bheidh a oifig folamh, féadfidh an t-Aire duine oiriúnach do cheapa chun dualgaisí an Scrúdóra Oifigiúla fén Acht so do chó-líona faid a mhairfidh an neamh-ábaltacht no an folúntas san, agus gach éinne a ceapfar amhlaidh beidh aige, faid a mhairfidh an ceapa san, na comhachtanna uile a tugtar don Scrúdóir Oifigiúil fén Acht so agus as airgead a sholáthróidh an t-Oireachtas, gheobha sé pé luach saothair a ordóidh an t-Aire le cead ón Aire Airgid.
Bord Athchomhairc um Scrúdóireacht Scannán do bhunú.
3.—(1) Bunofar Bord Athchomhairc um Scrúdóireacht Scannán agus beidh sé co-dhéanta de naonúr Coimisinéirí 'na mbeidh duine acu ina Chathaoirleach.
(2) Beidh baill an Bhúird Athchomhairc in oifig go ceann chúig mblian o dháta a gceaptha agus, i ndeire aon téarma oifige den tsórt san, féadfar iad d'ath-cheapa.
(3) Déanfidh an tAire, chó luath agus is féidir é tar éis rithte an Achta so agus aon uair is gá é ina dhiaidh sin, daoine oiriúnacha do cheapa chun bheith ina mbaill den Bhord Athchomhairc.
(4) Aon uair a bheidh aon fholúntas i mballraíocht an Bhúird Athchomhairc de dheascaibh ball d'fháil bháis, do theacht fé mhí-cháilíocht no d'eirghe as roimh dheire a théarma oifige, ceapfidh an t-Aire duine oiriúnach chun an folúntas san do líona ach an duine a ceapfar amhlaidh ní bheidh sé i seilbh oifige ach ar feadh a mbeidh gan caitheamh de théarma oifige an bhaill gur de dheascaibh é d'fháil bháis, do theacht fé mhícháilíocht no d'eirghe as a tháinigh an folúntas.
(5) Déanfidh an t-Aire o am go ham fé mar a bheidh gá leis duine de bhaill an Bhúird Athchomhairc d'ainmniú chun bheith ina Chathaoirleach ar an mBord san.
(6) Ceathrar ball den Bhord Athchomhairc i láthair i bpearsain a dhéanfidh quorum chun athchomhairc d'éisteacht agus an bhreith a thabharfidh móráireamh a mbeidh i láthair de sna baill isí is breith don Bhord Athchomhairc, ach más lú ná ceathrar an móráireamh san no más ina dhá leath chothroma do sna baill a bheidh i láthair, aith-éistfar an t-athchomhairc i láthair seachtar ball ar a luíod den Bhord Athchomhairc, agus an bhreith a thabharfidh móráireamh na mball a bheidh i láthair na haith-éisteachta san isí is breith don Bhord Athchomhairc ach, ar dhéanamh na haith-éisteachta san más dhá leath chothroma do sna baill a bheidh i láthair daingneofar breith an Scrúdóra Oifigiúla.
7) Féadfidh an Bord Athchomhairc gníomhú chun gach críche faid is ná beidh thar dhá fholúntas ina bhallraíocht.
(8) Ní fhéadfidh duine bheith ina bhall den Bhord Athchomhairc má bhíonn aige, díreach no nea-dhíreach, aon scar no leas in aon Chuideachta no gnó dar cuspóir no dar cuspóir dá gcuspóirí pictiúirí do thaisbeáint le cinematograf no le haon fhearas den tsórt san chun profíd a dhéanamh no pictiúirí do dhéanamh do b'fhéidir a thaisbeáint ar an gcuma san.
Oifigigh don Scrúdóir Oifigiúil agus don Bhord Athchomhairc do cheapa.
4.—(1) Ceapfidh an t-Aire chun bheith ina n-oifigigh don Scrúdóir Oifigiúil agus don Bhord Athchomhairc fé seach pé daoine is dó leis is gá chun crícheanna an Achta so ach a líon do bheith fé mar a cheadóidh an t-Aire Airgid, agus beidh na hoifigigh sin i seilbh oifige ar pé téarmaí agus tabharfar luach saothair dóibh do réir pé rátaí agus ar pé cuma a cheadóidh an t-Aire Airgid.
(2) As airgead a sholáthróidh an t-Oireachtas isea íocfar tuarastail no luach saothair an Scrúdóra Oifigiúla agus a chuid oifigeach agus tuarastail no luach saothair oifigeacha an Bhúird Athchomhairc agus pé costaisí eile a bhainfidh le feidhmiú an Achta so agus a cheadóidh an t-Aire Airgid.
Ní taisbeánfar aon phictiúir go puiblí gan teisteas.
5.—(1) Ní taisbeánfar aon phictiúir go puiblí le cinematograf ná le haon inneal dá shamháil mara ndéanfidh ná go dtí go ndéanfidh an Scrúdóir Oifigiúil deimhniú ar iomláine an phictiúra san do bheith oiriúnach chun é do thaisbeáint go puiblí.
(2) Einne a thaisbeánfidh go puiblí le cinematograf no le haon inneal dá shamháil aon phictiúir a bheidh, no 'na mbeidh aon chuid de, gan deimhniú ón Scrúdóir Oifigiúil ar é do bheith oiriúnach le taisbeáint go puiblí, no éinne a leigfidh aon chinematograf no inneal eile is leis no atá ar aimsir aige d'úsáid chun aon phictiúir den tsórt san roimh-ráite do thaisbeáint go puiblí agus a fhios aige gur pictiúir den tsórt san é no éinne a leigfidh aon fhoirgneamh no aon talamh atá ar seilbh aige d'úsáid chun aon phictiúir den tsórt san roimh-ráite do thaisbeáint go puiblí le haon inneal den tsórt san roimh-ráite agus a fhios aige gur pictiúir den tsórt san é, beidh sé ciontach i gcionta fén Acht so agus má fachtar ciontach ar an slí achmair é féadfar fíneáil nách mó ná £50 do chur air agus má leanann sé den chionta do dhéanamh féadfar ina theanta san fíneáil nách mó ná £5 do chur air in aghaidh gach lae a leanfa sé den chionta do dhéanamh.
(3) Tiocfidh an t-Alt so i ngníomh i gceann sé mhí tar éis rithte an Achta so, no aon am roimhe sin a cheapfidh an t-Aire.
Ní foláir coiníollacha an teistis do chó-líona.
6.—(1) Aon phictiúir ná aon chuid de phictiúir 'na ndeonfidh an Scrúdóir Oifigiúil teisteas teoranta ina thaobh ní taisbeánfar é go puiblí le cinematograf ná le haon inneal dá shamháil in aon áit nár údaruíodh leis an teisteas san ná ar aon tslí a bheidh buniscionn leis na coiníollacha fé leith a áiríodh sa teisteas san ná i láthair éinne nách duine den aicme gur údaruíodh leis an teisteas san an pictiúir sin do thaisbeáint ina láthair.
(2) Einne a dhéanfidh, le cinematograf no le haon inneal dá shamháil, aon phictiúir no aon chuid de phictiúir, gur deonadh teisteas teoranta ina thaobh ag an Scrúdóir Oifigiúil fén Acht so, do thaisbeáint go puiblí in aon áit nár údaruíodh leis an teisteas san no ar aon tslí a bheidh buniscionn leis na coiníollacha fé leith a áiríodh sa teisteas san no i láthair éinne nách duine den aicme gur údaruíodh leis an teisteas san an pictiúir sin do thaisbeáint ina láthair, no éinne a leigfidh aon chinematograf no inneal eile is leis no atá ar aimsir aige no aon talamh atá ar seilbh aige d'úsáid chun an taisbeáint sin roimh-ráite do dhéanamh agus a fhios aige gur taisbeáint den tsórt san é, beidh sé ciontach i gcionta fén Acht so agus má fachtar ciontach ar an slí achmair é féadfar fíneáil nách mó ná £50 do chur air agus má leanann sé den chionta do dhéanamh féadfar ina theanta san fíneáil nách mó ná £5 do chur air in aghaidh gach lae a leanfa sé den chionta do dhéanamh.
(3) Tiocfidh an t-Alt so i ngníomh i gceann sé mhí tar éis rithte an Achta so, no aon am roimhe sin a cheapfidh an t-Aire.
Cathin a dheonfidh an Scrúdóir Oifigiúil teistisí.
7.—(1) Einne gur mian leis taisbeáint puiblí do dhéanamh le cinematograf no le haon inneal dá shamhail ar aon phictiúir nár dheimhnigh an Scrúdóir Oifigiúil a bheith oiriúnach le taisbeáint go puiblí, féadfa sé ar an slí orduithe teisteas d'iarraidh ar an Scrúdóir Oifigiúil ar an bpictiúir sin do bheith oiriúnach le taisbeáint go puiblí.
(2) Aon uair a cuirfar fé bhráid an Scrúdóra Oifigiúla aon iarratas den tsórt a luaidhtear sa bhfo-alt deiridh sin, deimhneoidh sé ar an slí orduithe an pictiúir le n-a mbaineann an t-iarratas do bheith oiriúnach le taisbeáint go puiblí, mara rud é gurb é a thuairim go bhfuil an pictiúir sin no cuid éigin de gan bheith oiriúnach le taisbeáint don phuiblíocht i gcoitinne toisc é do bheith nea-náireach, draosta no naomhaithiseach no toisc gur bhaolach go ndéanfadh sé prínsiobail a bheadh contrárdha don mhoráltacht phuiblí do chur ina luighe ar dhaoine no go millfadh sé an mhoráltacht phuiblí ar aon chuma eile dá dtaisbeánfí go puiblí é.
(3) Má dintar fén alt so iarratas do leaga fé bhráid an Scrúdóra Oifigiúla i dtaobh pictiúra agus gur dó leis ná fuil an pictiúir sin oiriúnach le taisbeáint don phuiblíocht i gcoitinne ach go bhfuil sé oiriúnach le taisbeáint go puiblí in áiteanna áirithe i Saorstát Éireann no ar shlite fé leith no i láthair aicmí áirithe daoine, deonfa sé teisteas ar an bpictiúir sin do bheith oiriúnach le taisbeáint go puiblí fé pé cosca agus coiníollacha (adéarfar sa teisteas) is dó leis an Scrúdóir Oifigiúil is gá chun taisbeáint an phictiúra don phuiblíocht do chosc ar an moráltacht phuiblí do mhille, sé sin, cosca agus coiníollacha i dtaobh na n-áiteanna no i dtaobh na slite fé leith ina bhféadfar an pictiúir do thaisbeáint no i dtaobh na n-aicmí daoine a féadfar a leigint isteach chun an pictiúir d'fheiscint
(4) Má dintar fén alt so iarratas do leaga fé bhráid an Scrúdóra Oifigiúla i dtaobh pictiúra agus gur dó leis ná fuil ach cuid den phictiúir sin gan bheith oiriúnach le taisbeáint go puiblí cuirfe sé in úil don duine a chur ar t-iarratas fé n-a bhráid ce'ca cuid an chuid sin agus féadfidh an duine sin ansan (a) an chuid sin do dheighilt ón bpictiúir agus do thabhairt suas don Scrúdóir Oifigiúil, agus cimeádfidh seisean aige féin é agus deonfa sé teisteas i gcóir an phictiúra gan an chuid sin ann, no (b) breith an Scrúdóra Oifigiúla do ghlaca mar dhiúltú do theisteas do dheona agus athchomharc do dhéanamh chun an Bhúird Athchomhairc ar an slí orduithe.
(5) Aon uair a dhéanfidh an Scrúdóir Oifigiúil fén alt so diúltú do theisteas do dheona breacfa sé síos an diúltú san ar an slí orduithe.
Ceart chun athchomharc do dhéanamh chun an Bhúird Athchomhairc.
8.—(1) Einne ná beidh sásta le breith a thug an Scrúdóir Oifigiúil le n-ar diúltuíodh do theisteas do dheona fén Acht so no le n-ar ceangladh aon chosca no coiníollacha de theisteas den tsórt san, féadfa sé athchomharc do dhéanamh ar an slí orduithe chun an Bhúird Athchomhairc i gcoinnibh na breithe sin agus ar éisteacht an athchomhairc sin féadfidh an Bord Athchomhairc daingniú, claochló no atharú do dhéanamh ar bhreith an Scrúdóra Oifigiúla.
(2) Nuair a déanfar fén alt so fógra athchomhairc do thabhairt tabharfidh an Scrúdóir Oifigiúil don Bhord Athchomhairc i scríbhinn na réasúin a bhí aige leis an mbreith a thug sé agus ’na mbeafar ag déanamh athchomhairc ina coinnibh agus nuair a íocfar na táillí orduithe tabharfa sé cóipeanna de sna réasúin sin do gach duine atá i dteideal teacht i láthair agus éisteacht d'fháil le linn éisteacht an athchomhairc sin.
(3) Ní bheidh comhacht ag an mBord Athchomhairc chun aon teisteas do dheona fén Acht so, ach chó luath agus is féidir é tar éis athchomhairc d'éisteacht cuirfid in úil don Scrúdóir Oifigiúil an bhreith a thugadar ar an athchomharc agus ansan déanfidh an Scrúdóir Oifigiúil teisteas do dheona no do chimeád siar do réir na breithe sin.
(4) Ní bheidh dul thar breith an Bhúird Athchomhairc.
Cad a chialluíonn pictiúir do thaisbeáint.
9.—Chun crícheanna an Achta so isé rud a chialluíonn pictiúir do thaisbeáint 'nar dheonaigh an Scrúdóir Oifigiúil teisteas ina thaobh fén Acht so ná an pictiúir sin do thaisbeáint le scannán a dineadh, díreach no nea-dhíreach, ón gclaonchló o n-ar dineadh an scannán le n-ar taisbeánadh an pictiúir sin don Scrúdóir Oifigiúil no o chlaonchló o n-ar dineadh díreach no nea-dhireach, an claonchló san is tuisce luaidhtear agus chó fada is théidheann crícheanna an Achta so ní hionann pictiúir do thaisbeáint le scannán a dineadh ar aon chuma eile agus an pictiúir 'nar tugadh an teisteas san ina thaobh do thaisbeáint.
Leasú ar an Acht Cinematografach, 1909.
10.—(1) Ní bheidh sé dleathach do Chomhairle aon Chontae, Contae-Bhuirge no Baile-Cheanntair, ná d'aon Choimisinéirí Baile tar éis rithte an Achta so aon choiníoll ná cosc do cheangal le haon chead a deonfar fén Acht Cinematografach, 1909, i dtaobh cineál no nádúir na bpictiúirí a taisbeánfar san árus le n-a mbaineann an cead san.
(2) Gach coiníoll no cosc do ceangladh, roimh rith an Achta so, le cead a deonadh ag Comhairle Chontae, Chontae-Bhuirge no Bhaile-Cheanntair no ag aon Choimisinéirí Baile fén Acht Cinematografach, 1909, i dtaobh cineál no nádúir na bpictiúirí a taisbeánfí san árus le n-a mbaineann an cead san, beidh sé gan brí o am rithte an Achta so agus beidh éifeacht ag an gcead san do réir mar a bheadh dá ndéanfí na coiníollacha agus na cosca san do bhuala amach as ar dháta rithte an Achta so.
Na táillí a éileoidh an Scrúdóir Oifigiúil agus an Bord Athchomhairc.
11.—(1) Eileofar, i dtaobh iarrataisí chun an Scrúdóra Oifigiúla, agus i dtaobh eisean do dheona no d'eiteach teistisí, agus i dtaobh gníomhartha eile a dhéanfa sé i gcó-líona a dhualgaisí fén Acht so, pé táillí a shocróidh an t-Aire o am go ham agus a cheadóidh an t-Aire Airgid.
(2) Eileofar, leis, i dtaobh athchomharcanna chun an Bhúird Athchomhairc agus i dtaobh gníomhartha a dhéanfidh an Bord Athchomhairc i gcó-líona a dhualgaisí fén Acht so, pé táillí a shocróidh an t-Aire o am go ham agus a cheadóidh an t-Aire Airgid.
(3) Ná táillí atá le héileamh fén alt so socrófar iad o am go ham i dtreo go dtiocfid chó geairid agus is féidir é do shuim bhliantúil do dhéanamh a bheidh dóthanach chun na tuarastail agus na costaisí eile a leanfidh oibriú an Achta so d'íoc.
Féadfidh an t-Aire rialacháin do dhéanamh.
12.—(1) Féadfidh an t-Aire um Ghnóthaí Dúithche le hordú o am go ham rialacháin do dhéanamh, agus iad d'atharú agus d'ath-ghairm tar éis a ndéanta, chun cuspóirí an Achta so do thabhairt chun éifeachta agus go mór mór chun treo do chur ar gach a mbaineann le stiúra oifig an Scrúdóra Oifigiúla, le hiarratáisí do chur fé n-a bhráid-sean, le hé do dheona teistisí, agus le hathchomhairc do chur fé bhráid an Bhúird Athchomhairc.
(2) Gach rialachán a dhéanfidh an t-Aire fén alt so leagfar fé bhráid gach Tighe den Oireachtas é chó luath agus is féidir é tar éis a dhéanta, agus má dhineann gach Tigh den Oireachtas, laistigh den lá is fiche a shuidhfidh aon Tigh den dá Thigh ina dhiaidh sin, rún do rith chun an rialachán san do chur gan brí beidh an rialachán san gan brí dá réir, ach ní bhainfidh san o dhleathacht éinní a dineadh roimhe sin fén rialachán san.
(3) Más gá do réir aon rialacháin den tsórt san faisnéis do dhéanamh chun críche ar bith, aon duine a dhéanfidh an fhaisnéis sin agus a fhios aige í do bheith neamh-fhírinneach i dtaobh éinní tháchtaigh beidh se ciontach i mí-iompar.
(4) Le rialacháin a déanfar fén alt so féadfar a chur ar éinne a chuirfidh athchomharc fé bhráid an Bhúird Athchomhairc suim ná raghaidh thar £5 do chur síos mar éarlais agus an éarlais sin do chailliúnt más rud é ná héireoidh leis an athchomharc.
Mínithe.
13.—San Acht so, nuair a lomhálann no a éilíonn an có-théacs é—
Cialluíonn an focal “Scrúdóir Oifigiúil” an Scrúdóir Oifigiúil Scannán a ceapfar fén Acht so;
Cialluíonn an focal “Bord Athchomhairc” an Bord Athchomhairc um Scrúdóireacht Scannán a ceapfar fén Acht so;
Cialluíonn an focal “teisteas teoranta” teisteas a dheonfidh an Scrúdóir Oifigiúil fen Acht so agus ina mbeidh coiníoll no cosc i dtaobh na n-áiteanna no na slí fé leith ina bhféadfar no i dtaobh na ndaoine gur ina láthair a fhéadfar an pictiúir le n-a mbaineann an teisteas do thaisbeáint, agus cialluíonn an focal “teisteas generálta” aon teisteas den tsórt san ná beidh aon choiníoll ná cosc den tsórt san ann;
Foluíonn an focal “pictiúir” aon éifeacht radhairc a dintar le cinematograf no le hinneal dá shórt;
Cialluíonn an focal “go puiblí” ar aon taisbeántas, seó no siamsa 'na leigfar an phuiblíocht isteach chuige, pe'ca ar íoc é no gan íoc, agus foluíonn sé aon taisbeántas, seó no siamsa ná leigfar isteach chuige ach aicme áirithe den phuiblíocht a luadhfar i dteisteas teoranta;
Cialluíonn an focal “Aire” an t-Aire um Ghnóthaí Dúithche;
Cialluíonn an focal “orduithe” orduithe le rialacháin a déanfar fén Acht so.
Gearr-Theideal.
14.—Féadfar an t-Acht um Scrúdóireacht Scannán, 1923, do ghairm den Acht so.
Number 23.
CENSORSHIP OF FILMS ACT, 1923.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section | |
Appointment of officers of Official Censor and of Appeal Board. | |
Number 23.
CENSORSHIP OF FILMS ACT, 1923.
Establishment of office of Official Censor of Films.
1.—(1) There shall be established the office of Official Censor of Films.
(2) The Official Censor of Films shall be a corporation sole under that name with perpetual succession and an official seal, and may sue and be sued under that name.
Appointment of Official Censor.
2.—(1) The Minister shall as soon as may be after the passing of this Act and thereafter as occasion arises, appoint a fit person to the office of Official Censor, who shall hold office for such time and on such terms as the Minister shall, with the sanction of the Minister for Finance, appoint.
(2) Every person appointed to be Official Censor under this Act shall receive such salary or fees as the Minister for Finance shall determine.
(3) Whenever the Official Censor is temporarily unable to attend to his duties, or his office is vacant, the Minister may appoint a fit person to perform the duties of the Official Censor under this Act, during such inability or vacancy, and every person so appointed shall during his appointment have all the powers of the Official Censor under this Act, and shall receive such remuneration, out of moneys to be provided by the Oireachtas, as the Minister shall, with the sanction of the Minister for Finance, direct.
Establishment of Censorship of Films Appeal Board.
3.—(1) There shall be established a Censorship of Films Appeal Board consisting of nine Commissioners of whom one shall be Chairman.
(2) The members of the Appeal Board shall hold office for five years from the date of their appointment and shall, at the end of any such term of office, be eligible for re-appointment.
(3) The Minister shall as soon as may be after the passing of this Act and thereafter as occasion arises appoint fit persons to be members of the Appeal Board.
(4) Whenever any vacancy shall occur in the membership of the Appeal Board by reason of the death, becoming disqualified or resignation of a member before the expiration of his term of office, the Minister shall appoint a fit person to fill such vacancy, but the person so appointed shall hold office only for the residue of the term of office of the member whose death, becoming disqualified or resignation occasioned such vacancy.
(5) The Minister shall from time to time as occasion arises nominate one of the members of the Appeal Board to be Chairman thereof.
(6) Four members of the Appeal Board personally present shall form a quorum for the hearing of appeals, and the decision of the majority of the members present shall be the decision of the Appeal Board, save that whenever such majority is less than four, or the members present are equally divided, the appeal shall be re-heard in the presence of not less than seven members of the Appeal Board, and the decision of the majority of the members present at such re-hearing shall be the decision of the Appeal Board, but if, on such re-hearing, the members present are equally divided, the decision of the Official Censor shall be affirmed.
(7) The Appeal Board may act for all purposes notwithstanding the existence of not more than two vacancies in its membership.
(8) A person shall be disqualified for being a member of the Appeal Board if he has, directly or indirectly, any share or interest in any Company or undertaking, having as its object or one of its objects the exhibition for profit of pictures by means of a cinematograph or similar apparatus, or the production of pictures capable of being so exhibited.
Appointment of officers of Official Censor and of Appeal Board.
4.—(1) The Minister shall appoint such persons to be officers of the Official Censor and of the Appeal Board respectively, as subject to the sanction of the Minister for Finance as to number, he may consider necessary for the purposes of this Act, and these officers shall hold office upon such terms and be remunerated at such rates and in such manner as the Minister for Finance may sanction.
(2) The salaries or remuneration of the Official Censor and his officers and of the officers of the Appeal Board, and such other expenses of carrying this Act into effect as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance shall be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
No picture to be exhibited in public without a certificate.
5.—(1) No picture shall be exhibited in public by means of a cinematograph or similar apparatus unless and until the Official Censor has certified that the whole of such picture is fit for exhibition in public.
(2) Every person who exhibits in public by means of a cinematograph or similar apparatus any picture which, or any part of which, has not been certified by the Official Censor to be fit for exhibition in public, and every person who knowingly permits any cinematograph or other apparatus owned or hired by him to be used for the exhibition in public of any such picture as aforesaid, and every person who knowingly permits any building or any land in his possession or occupation to be used for the exhibition in public by any such means as aforesaid of any such picture as aforesaid, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £50, and in the case of a continuing offence to a further fine not exceeding £5 for each day on which the offence continues.
(3) This Section shall come into operation at the expiration of six months from the passing of this Act, or at such earlier time as the Minister shall appoint.
Restrictions in certificate to be complied with.
6.—(1) No picture nor any part of a picture in respect of which the Official Censor has granted a limited certificate shall be exhibited in public by means of a cinematograph or similar apparatus at any place not authorised by such certificate or under any conditions inconsistent with the special conditions specified in such limited certificate or in the presence of any person who is not a member of the class in whose presence such picture is by such certificate authorised to be exhibited.
(2) Every person who exhibits in public by means of a cinematograph or similar apparatus any picture or any part of a picture in respect of which a limited certificate has been granted by the Official Censor under this Act either at any place not authorised by such certificate or under any conditions inconsistent with the special conditions specified in such certificate or in the presence of any person who is not a member of the class in whose presence such picture is by such certificate authorised to be exhibited, and every person who knowingly permits any cinematograph or other apparatus owned or hired by him or any land in his possession or occupation to be used for such exhibition as aforesaid, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £50, and in the case of a continuing offence to a further fine not exceeding £5 for each day during which the offence continues.
(3) This Section shall come into operation at the expiration of six months from the passing of this Act, or at such earlier time as the Minister shall appoint.
When certificate to be granted by Official Censor.
7.—(1) Every person desiring to exhibit in public by means of a cinematograph or similar apparatus any picture which has not been certified by the Official Censor to be fit for exhibition in public may apply to the Official Censor in the prescribed manner for a certificate that such picture is fit for exhibition in public.
(2) Whenever any such application as is mentioned in the foregoing sub-section is made to the Official Censor, he shall certify in the prescribed manner that the picture to which the application relates is fit for exhibition in public, unless he is of opinion that such picture or some part thereof is unfit for general exhibition in public by reason of its being indecent, obscene or blasphemous or because the exhibition thereof in public would tend to inculcate principles contrary to public morality or would be otherwise subversive of public morality.
(3) If the Official Censor is of opinion that any picture in respect of which an application is made to him under this section is not fit for general exhibition in public but is fit for exhibition in public in certain places in Saorstát Eireann or under special conditions or in the presence of certain classes of persons, he shall grant a certificate that such picture is fit for exhibition in public subject to such restrictions and conditions (which shall be expressed on the certificate) in regard to the places at which or the special conditions under which the picture may be exhibited or the classes of persons who may be admitted to an exhibition of the picture as in the opinion of the Official Censor are necessary to prevent the exhibition of the picture in public being subversive of public morality.
(4) Whenever the Official Censor is of opinion that part only of any picture in respect of which an application is made to him under this section is unfit for exhibition in public he shall indicate such part to the person making such application and thereupon such person may either (a) separate such part from the picture and surrender it to the Official Censor, who shall retain it in his possession and grant a certificate for the picture with the omission of such part, or (b) may regard the decision of the Official Censor as a refusal to grant a certificate and may appeal in the prescribed manner to the Appeal Board.
(5) Whenever the Official Censor refuses to grant a certificate under this section he shall record such refusal in the prescribed manner.
Right of appeal to the Appeal Board.
8.—(1) Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Official Censor refusing to grant a certificate under this Act or attaching any restrictions or conditions to such certificate may appeal in the prescribed manner from such decision to the Appeal Board, and on the hearing of such appeal the Appeal Board may affirm, reverse or vary the decision of the Official Censor.
(2) When notice of an appeal under this section has been given the Official Censor shall furnish to the Appeal Board his reasons in writing for the decision appealed against, and shall furnish, on payment of the prescribed fees, copies of such reasons to every person who is entitled to appear and be heard at the hearing of such appeal.
(3) The Appeal Board shall not have power to grant any certificate under this Act, but shall as soon as may be after the hearing of an appeal communicate its decision thereon to the Official Censor and thereupon the Official Censor shall grant or withhold a certificate in accordance with such decision.
(4) The decision of the Appeal Board shall be final.
Meaning of exhibition of a picture.
9.—For the purposes of this Act the exhibition of a picture in respect of which a certificate has been granted by the Official Censor under this Act means the exhibition of such picture by means of a film produced, directly or indirectly, either from the negative from which the film by means of which such picture was exhibited to the Official Censor was produced or from a negative from which the first mentioned negative was itself, directly or indirectly, produced, and the exhibition of a picture by means of a film produced in any other manner shall not for the purposes of this Act be an exhibition of the picture in respect of which such certificate was given.
Amendment of the Cinematograph Act, 1909.
10.—(1) It shall not be lawful for the Council of any County, County Borough or Urban District, or for any Town Commissioners after the passing of this Act to attach to any licence granted under the Cinematograph Act, 1909, any condition or restriction as to the character or nature of the pictures to be exhibited in the premises to which such licence refers.
(2) Every condition or restriction attached before the passing of this Act to a licence granted by the Council of a County, County Borough or Urban District or by any Town Commissioners under the Cinematograph Act, 1909, in relation to the character or nature of the pictures to be exhibited in the premises to which such licence refers, shall, as from the passing of this Act, be void and such licence shall have effect as if such conditions and restrictions were deleted therefrom on the date of the passing of this Act.
Fees to be charged by Official Censor and Appeal Board.
11.—(1) There shall be charged in respect of applications to the Official Censor, and the granting or refusal by him of certificates, and in respect of other acts done by him in the execution of his duties under this Act, such fees as the Minister, with the sanction of the Minister for Finance, shall from time to time fix.
(2) There shall also be charged, in respect of appeals to the Appeal Board, and in respect of acts done by the Appeal Board in the execution of its duties under this Act, such fees as the Minister, with the sanction of the Minister for Finance, shall from time to time fix.
(3) The fees to be charged under this section shall be arranged, from time to time, so as to produce as nearly as may be an annual sum sufficient to discharge the salaries and other expenses incidental to the working of this Act.
Minister may make regulations.
12.—(1) The Minister for Home Affairs may by order, from time to time, make, and when made vary and revoke regulations for carrying into effect the objects of this Act, and in particular for regulating the conduct of the office of the Official Censor, the making of applications to him, the granting of certificates by him, and the bringing of appeals to the Appeal Board.
(2) Every regulation made by the Minister under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made, and if a resolution is passed by each House of the Oireachtas within the next subsequent twenty-one days on which either House has sat annulling such regulation, such regulation shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under such regulation.
(3) If any such regulation requires a declaration to be made for any purpose, a person who makes such declaration, knowing the same to be untrue in any material particular, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour.
(4) Regulations made under this section may require any person bringing an appeal to the Appeal Board to deposit a sum not exceeding £5, and that such deposit may be forfeited in the event of the appeal being unsuccessful.
Definitions.
13.—In this Act whenever the context so admits or requires the expression—
“Official Censor” means the Official Censor of Films appointed under this Act;
The expression “Appeal Board” means the Censorship of Films Appeal Board appointed under this Act;
The expression “limited certificate” means a certificate granted by the Official Censor under this Act containing a condition or restriction as to the places at which, or the special conditions under which or the persons before whom the picture to which such certificate relates may be exhibited, and the expression “general certificate” means any such certificate not containing any such condition or restriction;
The word “picture” includes any optical effect produced by means of a cinematograph or similar apparatus;
The expression “in public” means at any exhibition, show or entertainment to which the public are admitted, whether on payment or otherwise, and includes any exhibition, show or entertainment to which only a particular class of the public specified in a limited certificate are admitted;
The word “Minister” means the Minister for Home Affairs;
The word “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made under this Act.
Short Title.
14.—This Act may be cited as the Censorship of Films Act, 1923.