Fiach MacConghail (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Broadly, I see several challenges for the Irish Film Board. One is the continuing tension between developing an Irish film industry and attracting film productions to Ireland. There may be a conflict between developing a culture of film making and film makers in Ireland and attracting major Hollywood productions to our shores. I ask Mr. O'Herlihy to outline his thoughts on that aspect.

When Mr. O'Herlihy accepted the appointment from the Minister, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, an enlightened appointment, was he able to elicit any commitment from him on capital funding in the next few years? As we know, it is capital rather than current funding that the Irish Film Board requires. I note that in 2013 the figure is €11.8 million, compared to €13.1 million in 2012. Given that the budget will be announced earlier this year, in October, and that we know there is a set budget within the Department for three years, has Mr. O'Herlihy been given any indication of what the capital budget for the board might be for 2014?

I ask Mr. O'Herlihy for his general view on the commitments made in the recently published report, Creative Capital: Building Ireland's Audiovisual Creative Economy, which referred to a doubling of turnover and creating 5,000 jobs between now and 2016. These targets are very ambitious, given the current economic climate. I ask for Mr. O'Herlihy's views on whether they are too optimistic, given the challenging environment to which he has alluded.

Again with the caveat of allowing Mr. O'Herlihy to return later in the year-----