Ms Susan Kirby:

It is an excellent observation. The cost of production is key to the business model. It is a very competitive space. As a producer on the ground, my colleague Mary Callery might like to speak on this point. It is a bit difficult. It is a bit like asking what the cost of a car is. It depends on the car one wants to buy. It depends on the production one wants to do. Is it an episodic piece, a feature film or a short? Suffice to say that the funding requirement or model for funding the costs is essentially a patchwork sought by the producer as part of the production. One is essentially drawing funding from numerous sources. In Ireland, one is looking at the well-known sources of funding, which would include RTÉ, the major broadcasters, Screen Ireland, section 481, the Arts Council in some cases, the BAI and in some cases, the western region audiovisual producers, WRAP, fund for regional funding. Essentially, the role of the producer is to source all of that funding. The costs have grown exponentially in the past number of years based on inflation. In this period, we also have seen significant costs related to Covid. To maintain quality and fair remuneration as part of the overall equation, the costs are very significant when it comes to competing globally. The role of the producer involves drawing down the funding. Of relevance to the conversation today is the fact that we see the content levy as an additionality to that patchwork of funding. We see the content levy as an opportunity to introduce new funding to the sector. Ms Hamilton referred to "Normal People". Obviously, we celebrate "Normal People", the producers of which, Element Pictures, are members of Screen Producers Ireland. We are very proud of that but there are "Normal People"-type projects that did not get made and that all of our producers have sitting ready to go.