Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat. Obviously this is a very important sector for a number of reasons. The first of these is the artistic expression it allows. Second, it allows our country to tell our story. To a certain extent, it is very easy for us to become a satellite of Anglo-American culture, and that is not a good thing. Third, the sector adds a lot to the Irish economy. Another important issue here, which is one of the issues on which we are focusing, is that so many individuals rely on the industry to survive for their bread and butter. I believe that it is important that the State funds this sector but it is also important that the State analyses its funding to make sure it achieves the best output it can get. Furthermore, because the State is funding the industry, it also has a special responsibility, a duty of care, to those who are working in the sector.

There undoubtedly are problems in the sector. Anybody I have spoken to in the sector agrees on some of them. The first problem I have noticed is the precarious nature of the employment. As Mr. Macken has said, there is a debate concerning what is forced self-employment and what is chosen self-employment. In my experience, in working conditions where there is even power between the worker and the employer, there is usually a better relationship between the two. However, when the power is uneven it can sometimes lead to exploitation within a sector.

This industry seems to be structured so that much of the production happens by the use of special purpose vehicles. They are designed for accounting purposes and to reflect international practice. Those special purpose vehicles lead to short-term contracts, which lead to problems with continuity of contracts. When continuity of contracts is lacking, workers can feel that they cannot access normal employee law or regulations. There is the Workplace Relations Commission and employment legislation but if one's employment only lasts until the end of the month and one needs to stay in the good books until then in order that one can be employed on another special purpose vehicle, there is a danger that one will not access one's rights through that employment legislation. There is a danger that if a person puts up his or her hand, he or she could be blackballed. Such individuals could be seen as troublemakers. In the experience of the three organisations represented here, is that a problem in the industry? I ask the Irish Film Board to respond first.