One of the strictest censorship regimes of the 20th century, which banned books such as of East of Eden by John Steinbeck and Graham Greene's The Heart of the Matter, may be nearing the end of its days with news that Fianna Fáil has tabled a bid to abolish the Irish Republic's Censorship of Publications Board.

Introduced in 1929 during a period of moral and religious rectitude, under the Censorship of Publications Act, the board became notorious for its repressive zeal, banning thousands of authors including F Scott Fitzgerald, DH Lawrence and Somerset Maugham, and Irish writers Brendan Behan, Edna O'Brien and Frank O'Connor.

Among the first books to be banned, in 1930, were Aldous Huxley's Point Counter Point and The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall, as well as various books about sex and marriage, including works by women's rights campaigner Marie Stopes. In 1950, poet Robert Graves accused the board of "the fiercest literary censorship this side of the Iron Curtain".

Any member of the public can refer a work of literature to the board, which has the authority to prohibit books or periodicals that it deems "obscene".

Fianna Fáil justice spokesperson Nial Collins tabled a motion to abolish the board in the Irish parliament, calling it "an archaic, redundant body which has not had any use from 2008", according to the Irish Independent.

"The fact that no new board members have been appointed since 2011 is a testament to the fact that the board has outlived its use, as the internet completely bypasses it."

Eight books have been referred to the board since 2008, including justice minister Alan Shatter's debut novel, Laura, originally published in 1989 but reissued in June by Irish press Poolbeg, which "contains steamy sex scenes and centres around the troubled private life of an Oireachtas member who is having an affair with his secretary".

It was referred by a member of the public complaining that it was "obscene and contravened laws on procurement of an abortion or miscarriage".

The board has not taken a decision about the book, since it has had no new members since 2011, but it has been known for its adherence to strict Roman Catholic values: In 1976, it banned the Irish Family Planning Association's booklet, Family Planning – A Guide for Parents and Prospective Parents, as "obscene"; and eight books about abortion continue to be censored, including How to Drive Your Man Wild in Bed and The Complete Guide to Sex, both of which contain advice about abortion.

No books are currently forbidden for other varieties of "obscenity".