S.I. No. 17/1983:

BROADCASTING AUTHORITY ACT, 1960 (SECTION 31) ORDER, 1983.

BROADCASTING AUTHORITY ACT, 1960 (SECTION 31) ORDER, 1983.

I, JIM MITCHELL, Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, being of the opinion that the broadcasting of any matter which is a matter of a class hereinafter specified would be likely to promote, or incite to, crime or would tend to undermine the authority of the State, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 31 (1) of the Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960 (No. 10 of 1960), inserted by section 16 of the Broadcasting Authority (Amendment) Act, 1976 (No. 37 of 1976), hereby order as follows:

1. This Order may be cited as the Broadcasting Authority Act, 1960 (Section 31) Order, 1983.

2. Radio Telefís Éireann is hereby directed to refrain from broadcasting any matter which is--

(1) an interview, or report of an interview, with a spokesman or with spokesmen for any one or more of the following organisations, namely,

( a ) the organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army (also the I.R.A. and Óglaigh na hÉieann),

( b ) the organisation styling itself Sinn Féin,

( c ) the organisation styling itself the Ulster Defence Association,

( d ) the organisation styling itself the Irish National Liberation Army (also the I.N.L.A.),

( e ) any organisation which in Northern Ireland is a proscribed organisation for the purposes of section 21 of the Act of the British Parliament entitled the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978,

(2) a broadcast, whether purporting to be a political party broadcast or not, made by, or on behalf of, or advocating, offering or inviting support for, the organisation styling itself Sinn Féin,

(3) a broadcast by any person or persons representing, or purporting to represent, the organisation styling itself Sinn Féin.

3. This Order shall come into force on the 20th day of January, 1983, and shall remain in force until the 19th day of January. 1984.

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 19th day of January, 1983.

JIM MITCHELL,

Minister for Posts and Telegraphs

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Order directs Radio Telefis Eireann to refrain from broadcasting matters of a particular class which, in the opinion of the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, would be likely to promote, or incite to, crime or would tend to undermine the authority of the State.