Key facts
- The ad depicted grandparents hugging a boy, but a granddaughter appeared unhappy with the exchange.
- The message "not everyone wants a hug. Even from the people who love them" was included in the ad.
- The 'We-Consent' campaign is supported by the Department of Justice, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and CUAN.
An advertisement produced by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) to promote consent has been removed following criticism from Irish Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan. O'Callaghan described the ad as "inappropriate and demeaning to grandparents." The advertisement depicted two grandparents enthusiastically hugging a young boy, but when they approached their granddaughter, she appeared unhappy with the exchange. The ad carried the message: "not everyone wants a hug. Even from the people who love them."
Fianna Fáil politician Jim O'Callaghan, whose department funds the campaign, stated that the video "does not represent the views of the Government" and was "counterproductive." The 'We-Consent' campaign is led by the DRCC and aims to increase awareness and practice of consent from an early age. The DRCC stated they would remove the videos from their social media channels to reflect on their positive effect.
Fine Gael Senator Gareth Scahill also criticized the video, calling it a "waste of resources" and potentially "offensive and potentially damaging to our older population." A spokesperson for the Department of Justice clarified that the videos were produced by DRCC at low cost using volunteers and are not part of a government advertising campaign, and that DRCC intends to review them.