Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill 2006. It is important legislation which gives us an opportunity to participate in a debate on the film industry. I feel very strongly that the Irish film industry needs our support and welcome the further investment set out in the Bill.

The purpose of the Bill is to amend the Irish Film Board (Amendment) Act 2000 to increase from £80 million to €200 million the maximum of the aggregate amount of any investments, loans, grants or moneys provided by the board towards the cost of making films and training in all aspects of film making. It is necessary to deal with this issue head-on.

The film industry is very important given the high level of creative talent in Ireland, which needs to be developed. We need radical change and greater confidence among people who deal with the arts generally. We must consider the positive contribution of the film industry and its potential to provide employment in the State. There is significant potential to take on young people to develop their many skills and talents. It is very relevant in the modern age, especially when one considers the growth of IT and the development of technology. Employment is very important. Coláiste Dhúlaigh, a college of further education in Coolock in my constituency, runs an excellent film-making course in which many young people are involved. Last Wednesday, I had the Minister for Education and Science in my constituency to work with the young people at the college on the issue. She saw their work at first hand. I hope she will support the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism at Cabinet and when he lobbies the Minister for Finance for support for the film industry.

The Irish Film Board must be radical, brave and creative. These issues must be dealt with. There are many Irish companies that want to develop their skills and resources. Many small, Irish film companies make an excellent contribution to television and film and have great potential to grow further. As legislators, it is up to us to support them. I know many of the people involved in the industry who are making a significant contribution to the State. It is important to maintain the high standards and quality of work of these companies. We have the best of scriptwriters in the State, many of whom come from the north side of Dublin. They have made a significant contribution to the development of the film industry. When a country has talented writers, it is important to support them.

We must face the reality of an economy in which everyone is very busy working. In a recent poll, 82% of respondents said they did not have enough time due to the demands of work to enjoy films, the arts and live theatre. The sad downside of a booming economy is our seeming inability to manage our time. We must manage our time and resources positively and constructively. We cannot allow 82% of the potential market to continue to be unable to enjoy and facilitate the arts, including film making, due to the demands of family circumstances and work. Given that economic growth of 5.25% is expected over the next couple of years, I urge the Cabinet to put resources into the film industry. I welcome the positive developments in the film industry. We can no longer use the excuse that we do not have the money for investment. That debate is over. The debate now is about how we distribute the resources.

We should always respect the film makers, artists and writers who have made a massive contribution to the country. Many of them, with small budgets, have put Ireland on the map internationally in the context of the arts, music, drama and film making. It is important to recognise this. As legislators we have a duty to lead this debate and support these people. There is nothing wrong with supporting and rewarding the talented and creative people we have on the island. Now that we are in a new mode on this island with the development of the peace process, there is great potential for the many artists and film makers coming onto the pitch.

It is important not to be in any way negative or hostile towards people, particularly young people, who come up with new ideas and who are radical and creative. The youth of this country have a major contribution to make to the development of the film industry. Dáil na nÓg made a submission to the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights this morning. The delegates were pushing the agenda of youth and that agenda included cultural issues, artists, film making and music. Not enough support is given to the people involved in this area. We need to focus on them. We have some fantastic musicians and writers in the State and we have a responsibility to support them. They are on different parts of the island but the north side of Dublin is particularly lucky to have many talented and creative people who have made a massive contribution.

In the context of history, films such as "Michael Collins" and "The Wind That Shakes The Barley" make a very important contribution to Irish life by opening up the debate on Irish history and challenging those who have a revisionist view of history. We should not be afraid to have this debate. Let us thank the film makers for provoking the debate because in any democracy debate leads to a healthier democracy. A group is currently trying to launch a film about James Connolly which I ask the Minister to support because the republican-labour tradition on the island has been neglected for many years. James Connolly put social issues on the agenda at a time of great political turmoil on the island and our children and grandchildren would learn valuable lessons from a film about him. I urge those with an interest in James Connolly and in the republican-labour tradition to support this project which challenges the revisionist view of history and provokes debate, which is healthy in a democracy, and also gives everybody an opportunity to make a contribution.

The Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill contains many progressive measures, which I support. However, the Minister has a responsibility to lead in supporting the Irish Film Board and the film industry on this island. There is great potential in the film industry and we have only tapped a small part of that, given the talent and creativity that is obvious when one meets particular groups. I welcome this debate and this important legislation. It is a start, but we need to do much more. This is a non-political issue. The arts, creativity, and the film industry are positive and good for the island and should be supported. I would like to see an all-island approach to the issue, having met many creative people from Northern Ireland who are very anxious to get involved in making films and support the arts in Ireland. We should not shy away from the potential that exists in that respect, It is up to everyone in this House to support the Bill.

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