Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this technical Bill, which seeks to raise the ceiling on the total cumulative amount the Irish Film Board can provide to support the production and development of Irish films during the lifetime of the organisation. As this is essential to facilitate the continued operation of the board, I am happy to support it. This debate gives us an opportunity to consider the important role of the board and the audiovisual sector in the social, economic and cultural landscape of Ireland. I commend the Government's systematic approach to assessing the audiovisual industry, which led to the launch of the comprehensive Creative Capital report earlier this year. We are all likely to agree that the audiovisual sector has enormous potential to create meaningful employment, offer successful careers, provide an outlet for fantastic creativity and self-expression and inspire a real sense of pride among the Irish people as a whole.

The Creative Capital report provides a decent analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the industry and a possible blueprint for how the industry might grow and develop over the next five years. I understand that an interdepartmental group is in place to expedite the recommendations of the report. I hope we see some progress on the matter in the near future. It is important that we take a thorough approach to how we manage this sector, measure its relative success and failure, ensure accountability, review and improve. This point applies not only to those groups, organisations and companies that receive funding, but also to the sector as a whole, the State agencies and the Irish Film Board itself. While it will not necessarily always be the main driver, we should not be afraid to measure the return on its investment.

Although there has been large-scale State investment in and subsidisation of this industry, directly and indirectly, over a number of decades, many weaknesses and areas for improvement were identified in the Creative Capital document and other reports, including those drawn up by various consultants and Oireachtas committees. The PricewaterhouseCoopers report highlighted deficiencies in the section 481 tax relief scheme and found it is open to occasional "abuse". It is important that the deficiencies of transparency and competitiveness in this regard are remedied. There is a great deal of goodwill towards this sector. I imagine most people want the industry to go from strength to strength. The Government has a responsibility to ensure the systems, supports and incentives in this area are not exploited by a small number of well-protected interested parties. Some sort of exclusive elite or golden circle should not be created in the industry. Transparency and accountability are needed at every level. This applies to the recruitment and appointments process as much as it does to the funding process. We need to ensure funding is allocated on the basis of merit within a mature and progressive industry.

Future development in the industry should be comparable to the best practice procedures that are applied in other industries. We need to see the audiovisual industry as an industry like many others. We support the ambitious target of doubling the value of the audiovisual market to over €1 billion in the next five years. We want to see it achieved. We want to see a near doubling of direct employment to over 10,000 full-time equivalents and an increase in exports. We want to see an energised and vitalised industry that is at the cornerstone of the Irish creative economy and can compete with the very best internationally. A significant amount of change is needed in the industry to ensure all of this happens. One of the most significant challenges for the sector in the long term is to become part of a new economic landscape where the industry is seen as an attractive option for career progression.

Talent is the central driver of all aspects of this industry. It constitutes the quantum of creative, entrepreneurial and technical people working in the industry. The nurturing of that talent, allied to education and training, are at the core of a successful industry strategy. As part of this, we need to appreciate the rights and responsibilities of employers and the demands on them but we must also ensure that the terms and conditions of employment of all crew are fair and equitable. We need to ensure that appropriate education and training courses are available, including at first, second and third levels. We need to ensure that career and personal development programmes are in place and that work placement and on-the-job training are available and do not amount to some sort of exploitative scheme. Proper certification and structure will be an essential part of this.

This industry has the potential to be a really good story for Ireland. We want to continue to see films such as "Braveheart" and "Saving Private Ryan" being made here as well as international television productions such as "The Tudors" and "Game of Thrones". We also want to see indigenous Irish productions like "My Left Foot" and "The Wind that Shakes the Barley".

Last year we saw the fantastic potential of Irish animation with the "Secret of Kells" and "Granny O'Grimm" receiving international acclaim at the Academy Awards. What was particularly special at that time was the coverage of Ballyfermot College of Further Education where some of the animators had honed their skills. This was a great day for those nominated but also for the industry here and for Ireland as a whole. I am certain it provided inspiration for thousands of students at home. It presented a picture of endless possibilities - the possibility of a viable and sustainable career in this industry and, even more, the possibility of a successful and prosperous one.

To see that potential realised on a more frequent basis, it is essential that there is a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach. It is a much-maligned fact that there are often in-built inefficiencies associated with cross-Department responsibility relating to specific segments of the industry. Miscommunications and delays are far more frequent than desirable. The interdepartmental approach which has been employed by the Government to date is to be commended. It is important that we continue to review and improve this process and measure outcomes in an honest way.

The idea of a co-ordinated approach is just as applicable on a North-South basis as it is on a departmental basis. I read the recent reports into the industry but failed to notice any significant reference to the need for all-Ireland co-operation. I hope this is because such co-operation is taken as an automatic part of our development. It is essential that when we talk of growing the internal market, we talk about the island of Ireland rather than the Twenty-six Counties. To do otherwise is to lower one's expectations by 20% before one even starts.

My colleague and Minister for Arts, Culture and Leisure in the North, Carál Ní Chuilín, is determined to see the development of a strong and vibrant audio visual sector. Some of the successes in the North, such as "Game of Thrones", mirror the successes here. A joined up approach is essential to create efficiencies and maximise potential. I encourage the Minister to progress this matter at the next available opportunity, if not already done.

The continued development of the broadband network, including nationwide high-speed coverage and digitisation of sites and screens, must be key priorities for the audiovisual industry. These policies will be essential for stimulating local demand, increasing global access and ensuring that audiovisual content companies throughout Ireland function efficiently.

Sinn Féin launched its alternative budget yesterday. In it we proposed the investment of €2.5 billion of capital investment necessary for the roll-out of next generation broadband access throughout the State. This would take Ireland to the top of the broadband league and increase our attractiveness for high tech jobs. This is essential not only for those working in animation but right across the board in the audiovisual sector. Failure to achieve this will undoubtedly have an effect on the potential success of job creation and sustainability here. We believe that we could seek substantial investment for this roll-out from the European Investment Bank and should aim for an investment of €1.1 billion, or 44%. The Government should give this serious consideration.

The structure of this industry is fundamental to its future success. There is a responsibility on the Government to ensure that taxpayers' money is well spent, well invested and as far as possible, returns a dividend for the Irish people. Ambitious targets have been set out in the past in this sector and in other sectors. Now more than ever Ireland needs a success story, one that can create jobs, create hope and, in itself, lift the public mood. Go raibh maith agat.

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