Film producer Mr John Kelleher has been appointed to the position of Official Censor of Films by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr McDowell.
Mr Kelleher succeeds Mr Sheamus Smith, who has held the post since 1986.
In that time, the duties and staff of the Film Censor's Office have expanded considerably to take in the certification of videotapes and DVDs. Mr Kelleher will take up the post in April 2003, and Mr Smith will remain in the position until then.
Mr Smith was due to retire in 2001, but it is understood that disagreement at Cabinet between the previous Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, and the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, led to a delay in appointing his successor.
A three-person civil service group was set up before the General Election to make the appointment, which was advertised in May.
The group interviewed 20 applicants, who were reduced to a shortlist of six some time ago. Staff at the Censor's Office had expressed their concerns to the Department of Justice about the length and nature of the process. The Assistant Censor, Ms Audrey Conlon, whose name was on the shortlist, withdrew her application some days ago, and Mr Kelleher was appointed. Ms Conlon has been Assistant Censor since 1993.
Commenting on the appointment, the Minister said: "I am delighted, following an open, competitive selection process, to appoint Mr Kelleher to this important position.
"I am confident that Mr Kelleher's wide experience and high standing within the creative film industry will enable him to discharge with imagination and professionalism the functions of censor in 21st century Ireland."
He also said that he wished to pay tribute to Mr Smith, "who has, since 1986, carried out his functions as censor with distinction and dedication".
A former television producer and Controller of Programmes at RTÉ 1, where he launched the current affairs series Today Tonight, Mr Kelleher was managing director of the Sunday Tribune in the early 1980s, before moving into independent film production.
His feature film, Eat the Peach, was a success at the Irish box office, but its international failure led to considerable losses for its Irish investors under the Business Expansion Scheme.
He has produced five feature films and six television drama series, and is the executive producer of the weekly current affairs programme, Agenda, which his company, Fastnet Films, produces for TV3. Contacted last night, he declined to comment on his appointment.
Over his 16 years as censor, Mr Smith oversaw a more relaxed attitude to State censorship of film. A much smaller number of films were refused an exhibition certificate by him than by any of his predecessors.
