Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy raised a number of points. I agree with her that the industry is dispersed throughout the country. It percolates down into small communities and villages and the people involved in it get good employment. The industry plays an important role in the heart and spirit of many communities. Unlike many other businesses, it has the capacity to get into areas.

Through the Arts Council, we are trying to monitor the effect of the economic downturn. We have tried to maximise the allocation of resources to maintain jobs in all the activities that occur in the arts sector.

I am surprised at the information the Deputy has received about the film industry. I have not had any such indication. There was a significant Irish presence at the Oscar Academy Awards in Los Angeles last week and a significant Irish event was held leading up to the ceremony. It was an event I was supposed to attend, but in the current circumstances I thought if I was seen near the Oscar Academy Awards it would be misunderstood.

Approximately €150 million worth of business was on the table, which is a substantial increase on the figure for last year. We made changes to section 481 of the legislation in the budget on the basis of advice received from the Irish Film Board and others in the industry. The move to provide 100% tax relief for investment and to increase from €31,750 to €50,000 the limit for such investment, has had a significant impact. Everyone everywhere is feeling the pinch and we have to monitor how many of these projects will materialise. Last year the Irish Film Board funded approximately 25 feature films. I gave this figure the other day, and I can be corrected on it if I am wrong, but it was a significant number, which generated approximately €75 million in terms of activity in the country. Therefore, that was the right approach. The Irish Film Board funded a large number of small films.

I would not want the film board to put all its resources into funding one large film. It has a role and recognises it to be that of investment in generating jobs for young artists and creating opportunities for new directors, producers and actors to get involved in the film industry. The sector has had a very successful year. Gabriel Byrne and Colin Farrell won Golden Globes. The Costa Book of the Year Award was won by an Irish author. Success was enjoyed across the spectrum in that the Irish short film, "New Boy", which was fully funded by the Irish Film Board, won a Global Globe — it did not win an Oscar.

People tend to talk about this industry as a nice added extra, but given the current digital era, the creative talent we have, in terms of those who work in these major international digital companies, is fermenting in the film industry. Some 1,000 people were employed in the industry five or six years ago while more than 6,000 of the best of people are employed in it now. In terms of the quality of people working in the Irish film sector, it is seen as one of the best in the world. We were being passed out by other countries, as Deputy Mitchell corrected pointed out, in terms of the incentives they give to get films produced. We have now corrected that imbalance. That was reflected in what happened last week in Los Angeles. I am optimistic that the business this year will be as good and hopefully better than in previous years.

See this speech in context