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Irish internet providers have given porn their full backing. They say that the move by their UK counterparts to impose a blanket ban on flesh videos is "nothing less than censorship".

A new arrangement in Britian will mean subscribers to four of the country's biggest internet service providers will have to 'opt in' to prevent all sexually explicit websites being blocked.

The scheme is aimed at protecting children from content of a sexual nature online. Rather than opt in for families, the Brits have decided porn lovers should be the ones to have to say they don't want to be part of the scheme. That interaction with a call centre would be fun... 'I'd like to opt in for porn please'.

The Irish group representing internet service providers here, ISPAI, says the move amounts to nothing less than censorship. They say the responsibility should lie with parents to regulate what children access on the web.

Paul Duran of the ISPAI told the Irish Independent: "If internet service providers are dictating what can be accessed, then that could be seen as nothing less than censorship. Essentially we would be deciding what would be the inappropriate material. That should be left to the parents or guardians".

There are 20 internet service providers represented by ISPAI in Ireland, including Eircom and UPC.