Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. Doona, Ms McGrath and Ms Heaney for their presentation.

I come a rural community on the Mizen peninsula. I have seen the benefits of the Irish Film Board through the filming of "The Runway" and, most recently, "Star Wars" on Brow Head in Crookhaven, which provided an economic boost to a rural community. I urge that that continue because when "Star Wars" or "The Runway" comes to town, it is a huge boost to the local area, whether it be food outlets, local businesses or bed and breakfasts as accommodation is needed. It is a fabulous boost. I do not underestimate the economic effects it has on a rural community, especially off season. Dr. Doona talked about the funding of film boards. We have a film festival in Schull in west Cork, which is usually successful. Maybe it is an area that we need to look at going forward and one which needs further funding because it brings many people over a week-long period into a rural community, again off season, which is very important. The National Concert Hall and the National Museum are very much Dublin-based but I urge the witnesses to look at the rural communities to see how we can bring in the rural communities more.

I would take up Ms Heaney's offer that the committee might hold a meeting in Collins Barracks. With a name like Michael Collins, I would have a particular interest in visiting there. It would be very important in the year 2016, in the dying moments of the celebrations that have been going on, that we make that gesture.