Ireland Sticking with PEGI Ratings, Despite Byron Report

Ireland Sticking with PEGI Ratings, Despite Byron Report

March 28, 2008

Tanya Byron's recommendations concerning video game ratings are not likley to be adopted in neighboring Ireland.

ENN reports that the Irish Film Censor's Office (IFCO) plans to continue using the game ratings assigned by the Pan European Games Information (PEGI). Byron recommended a hybrid, film-like system which would combine information from PEGI and the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).

Deputy IFCO censor Ger Connolly told ENN:

Since PEGI was introduced only one game, Manhunt 2, has been banned. There are 29 countries using [PEGI] and they all have input.
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Comments

Submitted by Ebonheart - March 28, 2008 at 4:15 pm -0500
@ Peter

I figured as much, I just wanted to use my favorite phrase "Shove it" in some way :D
Submitted by SimonBob - March 28, 2008 at 8:48 am -0500
I guess "Irish disagree with English" is too obvious a headline.
Submitted by Ebonheart - March 28, 2008 at 8:58 am -0500
@ Simon

"Irish tell Enlish to shove it" doesn't make the article sound good either.
Submitted by Peter Coyle - March 28, 2008 at 9:32 am -0500
Actually, Irish and UK law tend to follow each other quite closely due to a few factors. I was a little concerned we would ape the system in Britain but this has eased my fears.
Submitted by Bones - March 28, 2008 at 9:50 am -0500
Well there would be no point in the IFCO then if they went with the BBFC
Submitted by Peter Coyle - March 28, 2008 at 10:13 am -0500
They are still different countries and even if IFCO completely copied the system from the BBFC, it would still have to exist in some form other.
Submitted by Monkeythumbs - March 28, 2008 at 10:15 am -0500
I don't recall anybody suggesting the Byron report should be applied to Ireland in the first place (or any other country, for that matter), so it's not as if they're telling the UK to "shove it" as you so eloquently put it.
Submitted by Ebonheart - March 28, 2008 at 4:48 pm -0500
Addendum

If any Brittish of Irish are offended at what I said, do realize it was a joke, nothing to take personal.
Submitted by Dan - March 28, 2008 at 5:29 pm -0500
I knew Bertie wouldn't let me down.
Submitted by Peter Coyle - March 28, 2008 at 6:28 pm -0500
Group hug!
Submitted by Peter Coyle - March 28, 2008 at 6:36 pm -0500
Although, in all seriousness, it could be one to watch down line. Up to now, Ireland and Britain pretty much shared classifications on all games even go so far as to save printing costs by having the BBFC logo on games sold in Ireland. This suited all parties concerned as the content is no different in both countries.

Now we could find a situation where a game gets into hot water in Britain and has to go under government review and is held up. At the same time its on the shelves in Ireland and capable of being played on any system in Britain.

Might be pie in the sky but might get very interesting over the months and years.

Honestly, I fail to see what PEGI doesn't cover that this new system will.
Submitted by Scottland89 - March 28, 2008 at 7:12 pm -0500
Where is the news about the french disregarding the Byron report? France part of the UK. The Republic of Ireland is not part of the UK, only Northan ireland. The IFCO only deals with the republic of Ireland. So I really think this article is really pointless, as the Byron report was a BRITISH report, not a british and Irish report, and the BBFC is a British ratings board, not a British and Irish ratings board.
Submitted by Ebonheart - March 29, 2008 at 7:19 am -0500
@ Scottland

"Where is the news about the french disregarding the Byron report? France part of the UK." Did you just call France part of the UK? Please tell me there was a typo somewhere in that sentence or any proceding.

@ Peter Coyle

Group hugs!
Submitted by Peter Coyle - March 29, 2008 at 8:33 am -0500
@Scottland89

You are indeed 100% correct in everything you say. The thing is Ireland is a population 4 million which is less the the size of Birmingham. Ireland gets the same content as Britain in just about every media because its just simpler that way due to the size of the market and speaking the same language. Like I said above, on some games and DVDs we see the BBFC classification and not the IFCO on the front cover due to this factor.

This is the only reason IFCO would feel the need to comment on this subject.

@Ebonheart

He was kidding.
Submitted by Ebonheart - March 29, 2008 at 12:08 pm -0500
@ Ian

Aww, I was kinda looking forward to refrencing that for a while to.
Submitted by Dave - March 30, 2008 at 1:34 pm -0500
I can't help but feel that the BBFC Manhunt 2 controversy did influence the IFCO's decision in banning the game in Ireland too. Experience has taught me that Ireland is far more liberal when it comes to such issues, but when a controversy pops up, things get complicated.
Submitted by StealthKnight - March 30, 2008 at 11:35 pm -0500
This sounds like it could cause some controversy in the relationship between Britain and Ireland. Oh well, good for Ireland for being independent. There stance seemed rational and thought out.
Submitted by Scottland89 - March 31, 2008 at 12:50 pm -0500
@Ebonheart

Sorry, Was annoyed off at the time as I had to type it up for a second time due to my browser crashing, after typing up a huge comment. Meant to say "France is not part of the UK" but I'm prone to forget a word or 2. The point I was trying to say was Ireland, like France is not part of the UK, so whats the point.
Submitted by George - April 2, 2008 at 2:39 pm -0500
Oooh others like myself who read Gamepolitics.com from Ireland??? Wowie! To Ebonheart "GROUP HUG" and to all us paddy's out there. Cheers Fellas, The IFCO is gonna here about these praises soon.

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