In brief
Ireland's Justice Minister slammed a Dublin Rape Crisis Centre advertisement that showed grandparents hugging a boy, calling it inappropriate and demeaning to older people. The ad, part of a consent‑education campaign, was removed after public backlash and international coverage. Ministers stressed the goal is to promote consent without disrespecting seniors, while the DRCC said it will review the material. The incident highlights the delicate balance of public safety messaging and respect for all demographics.
Irish Justice Minister criticised a Dublin Rape Crisis Centre video that showed grandparents hugging a boy, describing it as inappropriate and demeaning to older people.
The short clip, part of a campaign called We-Consent designed to promote awareness of personal boundaries, was taken down after backlash from the public and coverage in international outlets such as the New York Post.
Department officials said the message that “not everyone wants a hug, even from those who love them” was a misguided attempt to teach consent and could be counter‑productive by painting older relatives in an unflattering light.
Senior authorities added that the campaign, funded by a Department of Justice grant, did not reflect government views and will be reviewed for future versions. The DRCC has agreed to remove the videos from its social media until a new, more sensitive approach is decided.
Fine Gael Senator Gareth Scahill called the use of public funds for the short clip wasteful and criticized the concept as offensive. He warned that the public might begin to expect consent checks at family gatherings if such messaging becomes too intrusive.
The department’s spokesperson clarified that the We-Consent programme is an independent initiative by the crisis centre and is aimed at educating all audiences about consent, with the DRCC using volunteers and low‑cost production for the videos. The videos have been withdrawn as the centre reflects on their impact.
Overall, the incident shows the challenges of using social media to tackle complex topics such as consent while maintaining sensitivity toward all age groups.
