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IN 1978, THEN Taoiseach Jack Lynch received a complaint from a concerned citizen about an underwear advertisement which appeared in the RTÉ Guide.
The ad, pictured above, was for a new range of bras from Silhouette “designed to bring romance and adventure into your life”. It describes the bras as “soft, lacy and sensual”.
In a letter to Lynch, the person asked him to “do something about it”.
“Is it right to tolerate in out RTÉ Guide what really amounts to a plug for pornography?”
They said this kind of advertisement had the potential to “corrupt the very essence” of our heritage.
In that same year, Lynch passed on a suggestion made by a Canon in Tipperary to charge 100 VAT on ‘objectionable magazines’ imported to the State to Tánaiste and Minister for Finance George Colley. The Tánaiste replied that he had “carefully and sympathetically” considered Lynch’s representations but said “serious practical difficulties” would arise if the government tried to implement this.
Pornographic magazines
This was not the only example of complaints about material considered inappropriate in Irish publications at the time.
In 1980, a complaint made by the organisation ‘Parent Concern’ about the periodical ‘New Man and Woman’, was upheld by the Censorship of Publications Board as it was found to be ‘indecent or obscene’.
A letter to then Taoiseach Charles Haughey from the group’s honorary secretary details examples of perceived inappropriate content like features on wife-swapping with pictures of groups of nude couples.
She also expressed concern about details of various family planning centres, saying “if these are an indication of goings-on during sessions then they are no more than prostitution centers (sic) for orgies, with of course the commercial advocacy of contraceptives and abortion”.
The board found that the sale and distribution of further issues of the publication in Ireland should be prohibited.
‘Sensuous and sexual gratification’
In 1983, the Deputy Chairman of The Society to Outlaw Pornography, Marjorie Elliot, wrote to Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald about an issue of ‘Executive World’, a men’s magazine.
(Image: Brand New Retro)
In her letter she pointed out that Fitzgerald’s political party had expressed a determination to upgrade the status of women in society.
“Yet magazines of this type present them as sex objects, things of sensuous and sexual gratification for men, and in debasing them deprive them of their dignity and their rights,” she said.
She also said these magazines play a major part in inciting crimes of rape and sexual assault – “leading inexorably sexual crimes against children”.
Fitzgerald’s office wrote to the Department of Justice to seek guidance on the issue and was advised that it was a matter for the Censorship of Publications Board.
In correspondence, they said the board may prohibit a publication over a number of issues including advocating the procurement of abortion, devoting a large proportion to crime and any publication seen to be frequently indecent or obscene.
The Taoiseach’s private secretary responded to Elliot to advise her to lodge her complaint with the board.
See National Archives, Reference number 2013/100/3 .
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About 30 years ago at 2.30am New Year’s Eve we rang a random number in Sydney and sang the Neighbours theme down the phone! Whoever it was at the other end took it in good spirits and joined in!
@sean o’dhubhghaill: the times before the Internet eh?
Yet “Fair City” still exists!
@Ciaran McCann: I don’t know how?
@Ciaran McCann: Unreal. The most brutally acted, scripted and produced show by any serious network ever.
@Ciaran McCann: Fairly sh#ty
@Peter Walsh: “Serious network” is a bit of a stretch.
So now our inflating “broadcasting fee” is going to include funding the further syndication of Australian soaps? Wonderful Dee, just wonderful.
@Andy Cahalan: yeh seems a bit weird they are negotiating to be the broadcast partner when they don’t apparently have any money, on a show that’s obviously run its course.
@ed w: who actually watches this tripe
@Andy Cahalan: Flamin Nora, you are dead right.
With a little understanding, RTE can find the perfect blend.
@Ivor O’Sullivan ☘: they should all be there for one another during these difficult times
Is Dee Forbes the worst ever CEO? She seems completely clueless on how to do her job and her only answer seems be ehhh, let’s do something something tv licences. Beggars belief that she’s still employed and not only that but probably on an enormous salary.
“In talks” is a bit vague, to what end exactly? But my real question is, how can you mention the likes of Kylie Minogue and Russell Crowe without a word about the King of Pop himself, Craig McLachlan!?
@Colm de Cleir: wasn’t jason donovan on neighbours also?
@Brian Dunne: and Guy Pearce.
@FrustratedASDMum: And Liam Helmsworth, Russell Crowe and Margot Robbie:)
Drop neighbours then and save some money on broadcast fees. While you’re at it drop Home & Away, Eastenders and any other program people can watch on UK channels.
How much money are they wasting to broadcast programs people can watch for free elsewhere (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, etc)?
Take Eastenders for example, if you have a free to air satellite setup you can watch it on BBC without ads for free… why would you watch it on RTE?
@Noel Linnane: completely agree. It amazes me why channels spend so much on programmes that are simulcast on BBC/ITV etc. virgin media with their lack of money are always doing it. It would be better to buy programmes not readily available to the Irish
Reeling in the repeats
Bring back ‘Skippy the Bush Kangaroo’ to replace it. ‘What’s that Skip? Neighbours fallen down the mineshaft? Bloody well leave them there mate…’
@William Tallon: you win mate
Jason Donovan, danni minogue
@Alison Maguire: Hollie valance
@Alison Maguire: Not forgetting Natalie Imbruglia.
@Alison Maguire: Margot Robbie
Why on earth would we want to be funding an Australian production when the Australians don’t want to fund it!! Put the cash into something produced on our own shores.
As good as dead if RTE get their hands on it. Another sub from the licence payer to keep something long past it’s sell by date afloat.
RTE please dont bother, let it go, its ru##ish
Chris Hemsworth was never on Neighbours. He started on Home and Away.
Day time muck
Stone the crows , I suppose.it was important to a certain generation.
“RTÉ HAS SAID it is “in talks” with the production company behind Australian soap neighbours following after the future of the popular show was thrown into doubt.”
I’m not sure why people think RTE are somehow going to replace the funding that will go away with Channel 5 dropping it. RTE being “in talks” is most likely them asking about when it will end so they can find something to fill the slot
have your say