The Gazette 1974

Judgments, came into operation, as between the six

'ginal Member States, on 1 February 1973.

In signing the Treaty of Accession the new Member

States undertook to accede to this Convention, subject

any necessary adjustments to be negotiated. These

Negotiations are now proceeding. It appears unlikely

lll

at the Convention will come into force for this

country for some considerable time. Meanwhile, as the

Hquse is aware, negotiations are in progress with

'tain with a view to working out a suitable interim

arrangement for the reciprocal enforcement of main-

tenance orders. I hope that the position will be reached

He r e I can introduce legislation to give effect to the

Arrangement on our side during the next session,

f u m i n g that the legislation is enacted before the

Summer recess, the agreement can be signed and im-

plemented shortly afterwards.

The draft Convention on Bankruptcy is the outcome

y approximately seven years' work by eminent jurists

Jrom the six original Member States. This draft is now

being considered by delegates from Member States of

enlarged Community, including representatives

[rom my Department, meeting periodically in Brussels,

'he report of our own Bankruptcy I,aw Committee has

cently been published and proposals for the amend-

me,

it and codification of our existing bankruptcy pro-

t o n s are contained in the draft Bankruptcy Bill and

fae draft Bankruptcy rules which are appended to that

port. The relationship between the draft convention

a,1

d the recommendations of the Bankruptcy Law Com-

Httee is being examined Departmentally.

A Private International Law Convention is also being

Prepared under the auspices of the Commission of the

Hropean Communities. This Convention will deal with

fae l a

applicable to contractual and non-contractual

l i g a t i o ns and the law applicable to corporeal and in-

°rporeal property. A preliminary draft of the conven-

is at present being considered by a committee of

Perts consisting of delegates from the various Mem-

e r

States.

Adoption and Aliens

I was aware when I took office of the need for some

changes in the adoption laws. I have had extensive

9'scus"ions with persons knowledgeable in the field, the

societies, social workers, the Board itself. As a result,

m now in a position to put proposals to the Govern-

ment. I hope to have amending legislation introduced

during this session. I confess I had hoped to be

farther advanced at this stage but the discussions took

fa'lger than I anticipated. I am grateful to all who had

fascussions with me.

The Adoption Board made 1,402 adoption orders in

, I l l more than in 1972. The proportion of

nildren placed by adoption societies was 84 per cent

Hnp a r ed with 83 per cent in 1972. Seven hundred and

JHeen of the orders made in 1973 were in respect of

9°Vs and 687 were in respect of girls. The board con-

nues to hold sittings outside Dublin so as to facilitate

Prospective adopters. Forty-eight of the total of 94

fastings held during the year were held in various

Cer

Ures outside Dublin.

There has been some increase in recent years in the

> n b e r of aliens registered as being resident here for

ee months or more. The number so registered on

December 1972 was 6,118, as against 6,088 on 31

i^cember 1971. These are the latest figures available,

jfaughly 226.000 temporary visitors came here in 1973

°m places other than the North of Ireland and Great

Britain, as compared with 211,000 such visitors in 1972.

This is an increase of 7 per cent. The figures do not

include British born subjects who are exempt from

control on a reciprocal basis.

In 1973, 98 persons were naturalised as compared

with 89 in the previous year. This brings to 3.115 the

total number of all persons naturalised since 1935, when

provision for naturalisation was made.

In 1973 the Film Ceiror examined 865 films with a

total footage of 3,502,868. The number of films exam-

ined by the censor in 1972 was 791 and the footage

examined in that year was 2,775,852. Of the total of

865 films which the censor examined in 1973, 650 were

passed without cuts, 195 were passed with cuts and 20

were rejected.

Censorship of Films and of Publications

The Censor issued 247 limited certificates. The

Censorship of Films Appeal Board considered appeals

in respect of 13 films. Six of the appeals were rejected.

One film was allowed for general viewing with cuts,

four for limited viewing without cuts and two for

limited viewing with cuts.

Complaints have been made to me from time to time

that persons under age are admitted to films issued

with a limited certificate.

My attention has been drawn to the increasing

amount of unsolicited pornographic material received

in the post from abroad and I would like to take this

opportunity of warning parents to check the post

coming to their homes. In addition, complaints have

been made to me about the quantity of paperback

pornography available and I am considering possible

measures to deal with this undesirable development.

The Censorship of Publications Board examined 251

books and eight periodicals in 1973. Four books were

examined as a result of formal complaints from mem-

bers of the public and 247 books were referred to the

board bv officer" of Customs and Excise. The board

made 219 prohibition orders in respect of books and

five in respect of periodicals.

Appeals for revocation of prohibition orders were

examined by the Censorship of Publications Appeal

Board in respect of two books and two periodicals.

These appeals were successful.

Under section 2 of the Censorship of Publications

Act, 1967, a prohibition order imposed on the ground

that a book is indecent or obscene ceases to have effect

after 12 years. By virtue of this provision 393 prohibi-

tion orders in respect of books ceased to have effect on

31 December 1973.

In the Public Record Office the amount of material

being transferred continued to grow. The main intake

of documents in the office consists of the transfer of

records from the principal and district probate registries

and from the courts. During the period under review a

large quantity of legal papers was received from solici-

tors and others.

Compul ory Social Work

The alternatives available to courts at the moment

ought to be looked at again with a view to devising

some form of penalty which would deal with the many-

situations where a fine is inadequate but a pri

on sen-

tence is too severe. I have in mind persons being

deprived of leisure, having to do compulsory social

work, serving sentences at weekends

et cetera.

This is

an area in which I intend to initiate studies during the

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