Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Like other speakers, I have spoken on this before as well. I strongly support the concept of a strong film industry in this country. It is important for a whole lot of reasons that have already been set out: promoting the country, promoting the film industry in this country and promoting this country as a film location, which in turn has many benefits that roll off from it. It is hugely important to see your country, city, town or whatever the case may be on film in a major production for worldwide distribution. It is hugely important we promote and encourage that.

The problem seems to be that a number of Departments have responsibility in this particular area. It may be difficult to control a situation like that. It is extremely difficult to ensure best practice applies from everybody’s point of view – the nation, the industry and the individuals working in the industry. They all have an interest and a reason to make a positive contribution. They will do so and are anxious to do so. We have all met people involved in the film industry who have privately indicated to us what they want to do, all of which is positive.

We should try to avoid a situation whereby we have two levels, one which is the internationally accepted one and the other, which is in relation to how the situation operates and the rules and regulations that prevail on the home front. Some means or structure needs to be set up to bring that part of the industry under a single Department. It would make it much more acceptable from the point of view of those who have grievances and make it easier to control where control is necessary. That, in turn, would have a knock-on beneficial effect to the industry and to the country economically.

We have all seen films from all over the world depicting the country or nation, whatever that may be, always in the best possible light. To compete in that situation, we need everyone on board – the employers, employees and everybody associated with the industry. The international competition, as Deputy Matthews mentioned, is serious as well. People from outside this jurisdiction are very ready to lure people out of the situation here and encourage them to go abroad.

I refer to when the credits roll in a film. There used to be a time when the number of recognisable Irish names was very small and usually in the minor roles. That has changed considerably and thankfully to our advantage. Now in the major production roles we see a great number of readily recognisable Irish names. That is hugely beneficial.

It is a growing industry and it can grow more. It will grow much better and more effectively from everyone’s point of view if it is done on the basis that this is a good industry to work in and work on. It is a good industry to depict the Irish image at home and abroad. It is something we can and should be proud of.

Going back to the beginning and the studios in Wicklow years ago, it was very new and some of us are nearly old enough now to remember when it started, but not just. It was a fledgling industry that grew from very little. It set itself up in worldwide competition. It did a tremendous and great job. It also ensured there were younger people who wanted to get involved in that industry - younger people will always want to do so. They wanted to get involved, they had a degree of training and they had a degree of access to the front line, as it were, to be able to make a positive impact on the industry to which they were espoused. That needs to continue and grow. We need to try to ensure fair play and due process is seen to be operating throughout the industry here and that nobody becomes a victim of what should be a great industry.