Irish government scrambles to distance itself from 'demeaning' state-funded advert telling grandparents to ask consent before hugging grandchildren

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan ordered the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre to pull the clip, branding it 'inappropriate and demeaning to grandparents'. His department now insists the We-Consent videos were made cheaply with volunteers and were 'not part of a Government advertising campaign'. The centre is unrepentant, saying the scenes came straight from more than 20 consent workshops. Two more campaign videos were also taken down.

A grandson hugs his grandparents, while his sister grimaces as they pucker up.

The on-screen message read: 'Not everyone wants a hug. Even from the people who love them.'

O'Callaghan said loving grandparents are 'not something to be campaigned against'.