Section 31

“TV Interference” poster protesting the censorship law ‘Section 31’ in the Republic of Ireland during the Troubles. Issued by a republican group. 1971-1994. Ink on paper.

This poster is one of many designs used to protest the Broadcasting Authority Act: Section 31. Section 31 was declared in 1960, giving power to the government to determine what was broadcast on RTÉ. However, Section 31 was inactive for over ten years. In the early 1970s, during the conflict in Northern Ireland, Section 31 was authorised. The policy was used to prohibit RTÉ from broadcasting material they considered subversive. RTÉ banned '... a broadcast with any person representing the organisation styling itself Sinn Féin'. This ban was an attempt

to censor aspects on the ongoing conflict in the North from those in the Republic of Ireland. The ban was applied throughout RTÉ, banning any interviews with Sinn Féin, regardless of the topic.

Section 31 was repealed in January 1994 by Minister Michael D. Higgins.

More Information:

Feeney, Peter, Censorship and RTÉ. The Crane Bag, Vol. 8, No. 2, Media and Popular Culture (1984), pp. 61-64

Hanley, Brian, The impact of the Troubles on the Republic of Ireland 1978-79: Boiling Volcano? (Manchester University Press, 2018) Martin, Peter, Irish Censorship in Context. Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review, Vol. 95, No. 379 (Autumn, 2006), pp. 261-268 Truetzschler, Wolfgang (1991) "Broadcasting Law and Broadcasting Policy in Ireland," Irish Communication Review: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 5. https://www.irishtimes.com/history/2022/12/31/higginss-decision-to-repeal-section-31-caused-tension-between-two-governments/