Chairman:

The issue we have been discussing is extremely grave and important for the mental and physical health of the people working in the sector. I know of many people who literally cannot feed themselves or pay their rents or mortgages because they are blacklisted in the sector. We need to be able to ensure we create a situation whereby there is far more structured employment. Especially in the film industry, employment opportunities do not necessarily arise for a particular project, but production companies employ people more directly over long periods, etc., and the funding in this sector sometimes militates against long-term employment.

The point regarding clear procedures is necessary. There should be no one in the sector who does not know the steps to take to immediately resolve the problem. It is high time that all the unions sat down with the Department and all of the stakeholders and asked how they will proceed to rebalance the power imbalances that clearly exist in all these areas. I welcome the fact that the Department has indicated that the stick of funding could be used in future to really inform people that there will be accountability here. I hope the Minister will come out and openly say as much in the future.

Perhaps the witnesses could address any of those points or any of the issues that were raised by the previous speakers, and then we will take it from there. I call on Ms McBride.