The Irish Film Censor's Office (Ifco) has moved "from stop sign to signpost", film censor John Kelleher observes in his annual report published yesterday,
He referred to a move "from the old style of censorship to freedom of choice for adults and age-related classification for young persons".
The report notes that parents and their teenage children identified two "categories" of strong language when they participated in a survey commissioned by Ifco and carried out by Lansdowne Market Research, and that they drew a clear distinction between the use of "bad language" and "abusive language" in films.
According to the survey, adults and minors are "overtly aware" of the potential harm caused by "abusive language" directed against an individual's race, colour, gender or sexual orientation.
Youth workers participating in the survey "do not blame the media (including film) as the source of this emerging phenomenon" and they believe that the use of such language "just comes from 'the street' and a changing Ireland".
The survey reveals an acceptance of "slipping standards" in everyday language generally, and of "bad words" that are often used in the vernacular and have "a slang value and common currency".
As part of this research, the Irish film, Studs, set among a struggling Dublin football team, was selected as a case study. It was shown to separate discussion groups comprising youths aged 15-16, male and female; parents of teenage children; and youth workers (teachers, National Youth Council members, sporting bodies and others).
The film, which contains frequent strong language and over 100 uses of the f-word, received a 15A rating (this allows audiences under 15 only when accompanied by a parent or guardian).
All three groups considered the language appropriate in the context of Studs, as it reflects "the reality of the social standing of the characters portrayed and the reality of a male football team".
However, adults and minors expressed concern at the frequency of the use of strong language in Studsbecause "the consistent use of swearing could socialise acceptance of swearing among less mature teenagers/children".
The survey reports a "widely held view" that film classifications are "an important indicator" of a film's content and that "in broad terms, the age classifications adequately indicate the likely extent and usage of strong language in films".
In a second report, UK-based film and media consultant Dr Jim Barrett was commissioned to examine how Ifco might respond to the challenges of the internet and digital era. He warns that "national classification systems could be sidelined by new digital technologies that are unconstrained by national borders or jurisdictions".
Mr Kelleher prefaces his annual report with a letter to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Michael McDowell, in which he notes: "I believe it is timely that Ifco should review and proactively seek to meet the challenges to film and DVD/video classification posed by new technological developments and business models."
The statistical data in Mr Kelleher's report notes the number of films and DVD/videos certified by his office in 2006 exceeded 10,000, more than three times the number certified in 1999.
There has been a significant increase in non-mainstream or arthouse films certified, which the censor attributes to the reduced fees for limited release films introduced by the Minister in 2004 at the request of Ifco.
Mr Kelleher adds that film distributors continue to press for a similar initiative to be taken regarding minority interest DVD/video releases, which requires an amendment to the Video Recordings Act, 1989.
He notes last year saw a 16 per cent increase in visitors to the Ifco website ( www.ifco.ie) which provides parents with detailed consumer information and advice about films as soon as they are released in cinemas.