In a statement to Irish broadcaster RTÉ, the DRCC said the videos were “premised on the idea that boundaries should be respected from an early age and to respect others’ boundaries too”.
“We are going to remove the videos from our social media channels while we reflect on whether they are having the positive effect we want them to have,” it added.
Fine Gael Senator Gareth Scahill, who is among the critics, said the video was a waste of resources.
“What’s concerning here is public money has been used to fund an ad which at best has been ill-thought out, and at worst is offensive and potentially damaging to our older population,” he said, adding that this “publicly-funded social media video is a million miles off the mark”.
“What’s next? Will we need to sign consent forms at arrival halls in Dublin, Shannon, Knock and Cork airports this Christmas before we can greet family members?”
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said the videos were “produced by DRCC at low cost using volunteers and are not part of a government advertising campaign”.
Meanwhile, Dr Eoin O’Malley, an associate professor at Dublin City University, said he believes the advert is the latest example of the state overreaching.
“You are seeing people pushing ideas that are beyond mainstream,” he said.
O’Malley said that the importance of consent is reasonable to most people, but that the video is too extreme.
“The idea that there needs to be an ad telling grandparents that they shouldn’t hug their grandkids, that they should look for permission in advance of that, seems absurd to most normal people.
“The Irish constitution is very clear that the family is the primary unit for teaching children and for raising children, and so to some extent this is kind of going beyond that.”
However, the campaign has its defenders too.
Academic Dr Órfhlaith Campbell said it is not an attack on grandparents but instead aimed to highlight the importance of consent.
“The ad is highlighting differences in children’s needs and the imp (sic) of consent. It is not campaigning against grandparents. Dear god in heaven!!!” she wrote on X, external.
An account named Danny Boy said it wasn’t “discouraging grandparents from hugging children” but was “encouraging children to speak up” if they feel uncomfortable.