# Irish consent advert withdrawn after backlash over grandparents’ hugs

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/grandparents-should-ask-for-consent-to-hug-their-grandchildren-irish-advert-says/
- Published: 2026-10-23T14:39:02+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-23T14:53:16+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16230301/Grandparents-ask-consent-hug-grandchildren-Irish-advert.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Irish consent advert about hugging grandchildren was withdrawn.
- The Justice Minister criticised it as demeaning and counterproductive.
- The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said it reflected workshop feedback.

## Summary

A government-funded Irish consent advert suggesting grandparents ask before hugging grandchildren was removed after sparking widespread criticism. Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said it was inappropriate, demeaned grandparents and did not help explain consent in sexual relationships.

The video showed a girl looking uncomfortable as her grandparents moved to hug and kiss her, while her brother welcomed them. The campaign was funded through Cuan, Ireland’s agency addressing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence; two other campaign videos were also taken down. The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said the scenarios reflected feedback from more than 20 workshops with younger and older people.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.