Overview
- The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre removed three short We‑Consent videos from its social channels on Thursday while it reviews whether they are having the intended positive effect.
- One 25-second clip showed grandparents enthusiastically hugging a young boy while a teenage girl looked uncomfortable and the ad ended with the line “Not everyone wants a hug.”
- Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan said the advert did not reflect government views, called it inappropriate and demeaning to grandparents, and said his officials engaged DRCC leading to its removal.
- The campaign is funded by Ireland’s Department of Justice and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, which intensified political scrutiny and public debate on how consent education is framed.
- Coverage fell along different lines: some politicians and tabloid outlets criticised the ad as undermining family norms while others defended its figurative intent and the role of creative messaging in prevention work.