Ms Mary Nash:

In the screen industries intellectual property and copyright, and the assignment of rights, are particularly complex because there are so many creatives. Last year, Screen Ireland, which is the State body with responsibility for the development of the Irish audiovisual industry retained an independent facilitator to meet stakeholders to understand and discuss issues that have arisen since transposition into Irish law of the EU copyright directive. During the first phase of that process the facilitator held individual stakeholder meetings. There are seven groups involved in this process and the facilitator consultant met each of them. The process is continuing with a view to finding a common understanding and-or identifying potential clarifications that might be required.

As a collective, the industry representative groups have proposed the next steps. Screen Ireland has facilitated further engagement happening already in 2024 so the groups met again early this month. It is important to allow that process the opportunity to address some of these concerns. The seven organisations are: Animation Ireland, Screen Producers Ireland, VFX Ireland, Irish Equity - SIPTU, the Screenwriters' Guild, the Screen Directors Guild and the Screen Composers Guild. Engagement by the seven organisations is very heartening and constructive. The more time representatives of these groups spend together then the more they will get to grips with the process.