Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)

First, regarding the regional point Deputy Farrell makes, I take that on board. In her own contribution earlier, she acknowledged that parts of our country have a long-established heritage and excellence in the film and audiovisual sector. I know in the area she represents, great efforts are being made at the moment to develop that sector as well. I understand these efforts are being successful but I know the Deputy wants to see them being even more successful in the time ahead. I would go back to the point I made to her regarding the Scéal Uplift that is now in place. While this is an uplift that is in place across our entire country, the fact that it is focused on qualifying expenditure of less than €20 million with regard to expenses from the production of the film is having an effect with regard to the development of smaller productions within our country, which in turn, I hope, is playing a role in all regions across our country having the opportunity to participate in this sector. I believe other sectors beyond the south east are growing. When I brought in that change in 2020 in the regional uplift, we did say it was going to be for a certain period of years. We then made it available for a further year because of Covid. That was in 2020 and it is now five years of that being in place. It is a fair period of time to try to help other sectors within our country further develop their role in the creative sector.

Regarding the point made by the Deputy about music, we have not done any work there as to whether this has had an impact on the development of the music sector within the UK. I outlined in my earlier answer to the Deputy some of practical difficulties that could be involved in the implementation of her policy here and I think they are reasonable concerns to have. What I am really encouraged by, when I was heavily involved in this sector a number of years ago as we were revising the different supports we had in place, is regardless of whether the music is national or local, it is Irish musicians who are involved in the performance of it and it is a flourishing sector within our country at the moment.

It is great to see that our musicians, composers and studios involved in that part of the creative sector of our economy are doing well at the moment.