Two changes to existing film certificate categories arebeing introduced by Ireland's Film Censor, John Kelleher.

A new '16'certificate will restrict admission to persons aged sixteen and over, and theexisting '12PG' and '15PG' certificates will be re-designated '12A' and '15A',where the 'A' denotes adult. The changes will take effect from Jan 1, 2005.

There hadbeen some controversy recently in Ireland over the 15PG certificate given to BadSanta because some parents mistakenly thought it was a film suitable foryoung children. The new '16' certificate will bridge the gap between films towhich children may be brought and those designated '18' and suitable foradults.

Accordingto the Censor's Office the changes have been made following consultations withparents, educators, the public, film distributors and cinema managers.

They alsotake account of findings of the nationwide survey of parents published lastSeptember. The results of a further national survey, this time of more than athousand adolescents, will be published early in the New Year.

The full cinema certification categories will be as follows:
General: Suitable for all ages.
PG: Suitable for all ages, but parental guidance advised.
12A: Films in this category are, in the opinion of the Film Censor, suitablefor those aged 12 and over only. However, children under that age will beadmitted if accompanied by an adult.
15A: Films in this category are, in the opinion of the Film Censor, suitablefor those aged 15 and over only. However, children under that age will beadmitted if accompanied by an adult.
16: Admission is restricted to persons aged sixteen and over.
18: Admission is restricted to persons aged eighteen and over.