As more computer games are made available in an increasing number of ways tighter regulation and controls are required.
New controls on violent and sexually explicit video games are to be introduced early next year, with the censor rating them in the same way as films and videos.
The games industry already has a rating system in place for over ten years. So are the new controls necessary?
Under the system in place since 1989 retailers are not permitted to sell games rated 18 to anyone under that age. Commercial director of Games World, Michael Finucane, says that the legislation is already in place so recent reports on a clampdown by the film censor's office are untrue.
Niall O'Shannon, Sony, says that there are certain games that will be censored but they have already gone through a level of censorship via the leisure industry's own regulatory body.
A more worrying development is that these games can be downloaded from the internet.
Kevin McDermott, The Player Magazine, says that many games are widely available on the internet which is something that can not really be policed by the Irish games industry. There are some tools that parents can use to prevent their younger children from accessing the games, such as Cyber Nanny or Net Nanny.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 28 July 1999. The reporter is Deirdre McCarthy.
