Irish TV viewers and radio listeners are more likely to be offended by violence than any other content, a new survey has found.
The survey, by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI), also found that a quarter of the population claims it has never been offended by anything on radio or television.
The attitudinal survey was conducted by Lansdowne Market Research on behalf of the BCI. The BCI is trying to develop a code of programme standards governing taste and decency.
When asked what offends on television or radio nowadays, 46 per cent mentioned violence of any kind, 23 per cent cited sex, while 22 per cent found swearing and coarse language offensive.
However, the BCI said an important theme running through the survey was the issue of context.
Those interviewed found depiction of a graphic rape scene more acceptable as part of a detective drama than in a soap opera, for example.
The BCI said most people said issues of violence, sex or coarse language were more acceptable for late-night broadcasting.