Classify not Censor

The Irish Film Censor's Office has been renamed to the Irish Film Classification Office, and the offical film censor will henceforth be known as the Director of Film Classification.

Other changes:

• The phrase "likely to cause harm to children" is introduced into the legislation for the first time.
• Lower fees will be charged for classifying specialty interest DVDs. This initiative is similar to the highly successful 'limited release initiative' for cinema films, which was introduced in 2004.
• It will now be an offence to supply a DVD to a person who is under the IFCO-designated age rating.
• Fines for certain offences are updated.

Welcoming the changes and IFCO's modernized remit as an open and transparent agency, the Minister said: 'The role of the Film Censor has evolved to reflect changed times. In a mature society, I think most of us believe that adults should be free (subject to the law) to decide for themselves what they may see, and the primary role for IFCO should be what we call age-related classification'.

The Director of Film Classification said: "Today, we don't censor, we classify. We don't decline to explain or justify our decisions. Rather, we welcome the fact that we can provide the public, and parents in particular, with age-related classification and consumer advice. We have gone from stop sign to sign post. This is a very special occasion for all of us here at Harcourt Terrace. For me, on both a professional and personal basis, it's a really special and symbolic day.