Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I agree with the Deputy's comments. The economic facts speak for themselves but there has been a very focused effort in recent years to raise the ability of Irish film to a new level, and that has been very successful. We have gone from approximately 1,000 employees in the early 1990s to approximately 6,000 today. These people are recognised worldwide as being very creative and talented, both behind the camera and in front of it. Everybody would probably recognise those in front of the camera much more easily but there is a wealth of talent recognised as being at the top end of excellence in productions.

At a time when we are under strain, it is important for us to keep the emphasis on productive activity within the economy and to sustain jobs. As the Deputy has rightly said, we must use all the levers available to us through the best brand we have, the broad generic brand of culture in which our film industry fits.

We have had a golden period in terms of the awards our films and television productions have won in the past decades. Quality film actors, both male and female, have won awards, and Irish productions have also won Oscars, Golden Globes, prizes at the Cannes film festival and even over the weekend there were Emmy triumphs. All of this helps to foster Ireland's image and history worldwide.

I am very committed to maintaining the Irish Film Board. It has worked and the efforts we have made with the Department of Finance with the section 481 scheme is winning business for us. Neil Jordan told me the other day that it is currently very difficult in Hollywood - it has been a bad year for the film industry worldwide - but we have grown our indigenous business and business coming into the country this year. That is the reasoning behind our approach.

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