Mr. Gerry O'Brien:

The strength of section 481 is that it provides the biggest investment in the cultural sector in Ireland. It is very important to all our crews, animators and actors who get work. That is the strength. It also has a very significant soft diplomatic benefit to Ireland because foreign producers and actors like to come here. It spreads the name of Ireland all around. As I said in my opening statement, there is a reputational risk. We have a great reputation for caring about our artists, writers etc. However, when issues are mentioned about the engagement of artists and the protection of their rights, people abroad may say, "Now we have a problem." Our reputation is tarnished by not allowing our actors to be treated equally on the open market, as every other performer is. That is one of the weaknesses.

The strength is that it provides employment. We just need to make sure that it is, as the legislation states, quality employment, that it is sustainable and that it raises everybody's standard of living. That is what we need to strengthen. We do that by applying the legislation rigorously. As stated in the EU directive, there must be no deviation from the protection for performers in office. Those are the weaknesses.

The Deputy asked what we need to do from a budgetary point of view. We have suggested it. The legislation is there and it needs to be applied.

I want to say this. I am speaking as president of a union, Equity, but this does not only apply to members of the union. It is not about that because it does not say that proportionate remuneration must go to members of Irish Equity. This is about the rights of Irish citizens. They are the people who are investing in the film industry and their return must be the quality employment. They must ensure that we will not lose our talent by going abroad constantly. We are told we have to look to Los Angeles and we have to look to London. We can look to here. We have a beating heart of creativity and we must protect that within this industry. If one sucks it dry, there is no industry; there is just a shell. We have to put that dignity of fair employment back into the heart of that industry. That is what I would suggest. The legislation is there; apply it.