Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank our witnesses for being here. We have a fantastic line-up today and I thank everyone for their time. I was watching proceedings from my office earlier. I appreciate everyone taking the time to be here and thank them for all of the work they are doing, the employment they are supporting and the brilliant output they are producing. It is very important.

I am not being parochial here but I want to mention Kerry College and the content development for film and television course that started there in 2023. It is of national importance which is why I am mentioning it here today. It really sets a standard in terms of the type of education that we need to be rolling out regionally and the types of courses that we need to make available in all pockets of the country. It is my understanding that there are 14 graduate students from across the country participating in the course that is available in Kerry College in Tralee. I want to commend the entire team there including Mr. Owen O'Donnell, Mr. Con O'Sullivan, and Mr. John Herlihy as well as the director, writer and producer, Mr. Gerard Barrett, who is heavily involved in that course. I am interested in hearing the views of our guests as to whether this is the type of course that could be replicated elsewhere in the country. Is it something that we could see more of? Is there enough investment in that regard? It is my understanding that Mr. Maurice Sweeney, Chairman of the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland, is teaching on that course as well. Some really significant players are involved in the course and it is one that should set a template for others around the country. It is building on over 30 years of work by Kerry College and its predecessors in the areas of film and television. I invite our guests to give their views on that particular side of it. Could this be replicated elsewhere?