Full Breakdown
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Pulls “We-Consent” Grandparent Hug Video After Government Pushback
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On October 22, 2026, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) removed a 25-second social-media advertisement from its “We-Consent” campaign after criticism from senior government officials and public backlash. The video showed grandparents approaching a teenage girl who recoiled from an embrace.
Background & Context
“We-Consent” is a national programme funded by the Department of Justice and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. The DRCC said the video series was produced on a low budget using volunteers and drew on feedback from more than 20 consent workshops. Scenarios shown in the videos “came up very frequently” in those workshops.
Official Statements & Responses
Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the ad “is not a Government campaign” and that the State “does not support” it, stressing the need to keep it separate from broader work on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee emphasized open conversations about consent but questioned whether encouraging grandparents to seek permission before hugging should be a policy priority.
The DRCC confirmed the video was taken down “to enable a review” and to prevent “negative attention” from distracting from its core mission of supporting victims and survivors.
Criticism & Opposition
Elected officials and public figures condemned the ad.
- Peadar Tóibín, Aontú leader, called equating grandparent-grandchild affection with sexual consent “absolutely inaccurate and completely wrong.”
- Ken O’Flynn (Independent Ireland TD) described the ad as “insulting” to decent families.
- Gavin Pepper, councillor, urged “common sense,” saying the grandparent-grandchild bond should not be portrayed as suspicious.
- Lorraine Hall, councillor, said she was “embarrassed” for anyone who took the ad literally.
Psychologist John Francis Leader noted the challenge of conveying a consent message that “suits everybody” without alienating any group.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We-Consent is a long-term campaign as part of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre's prevention work to increase the awareness and practice of consent in Ireland.” — Callaghan, DRCC
- “The department understands that DRCC intends to review these videos. They are being removed from their social media channels to enable this review.” — Callaghan, DRCC
- “The video produced by the DRCC involving grandparents does not represent the views of the Government.” — Justice Jim O'Callaghan
These statements capture the DRCC’s framing of the campaign, the Department of Justice’s stance on the review, and the Justice Minister’s clarification of the government’s position.