Áine Collins (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill and to thank the Minister for introducing it to the House. This is a necessary and important Bill to ensure the continued growth of the Irish film industry and to attract foreign productions to Ireland. The Irish audiovisual industry is worth €557 million per annum to the Irish economy and has strong growth potential. To achieve this, it is important to raise the ceiling on the cumulative amount the Irish Film Board can provide to support the production and development of Irish films.

The Irish Film Board has had many tangible successes since 1993 when the President, Mr. Higgins, formerly the Minister for Arts, Culture and Gaeltacht, reconstituted the board. I take this opportunity to congratulate our new President and to wish him all the best in his new position.

The board has supported and invested strongly in the Irish film industry between 1993 and 2004 with some notable successes. Board-backed Irish films such as "I Went Down", "The Magdalene Sisters", "Man about Dog" and "Intermission" received critical and commercial success. In 2005, the award winning "The Wind that Shakes the Barley" was shot in Ballyvourney and Timoleague in my home county of Cork. Such international exposure to the beautiful terrain of Cork clearly benefits the tourism industry. Furthermore, these films were internationally acclaimed and received major awards at prominent film festivals. In light of these successes, it is clear that the Irish film industry demonstrates export potential and that further investment will benefit the Irish economy.

The board has been also instrumental in bringing some major international productions to Ireland. During the past 20 years, Ireland has hosted several successful international productions such as "Braveheart", "Saving Private Ryan", "Reign of Fire", "Michael Collins" and the Harry Potter films. The images of Ireland depicted in these films are a significant boost to the Irish tourism industry.

Similarly, the New Zealand tourism industry grew dramatically as a direct result of the filming of the Lord of the Rings trilogy among its beautiful landscapes. Recently, the board was influential in securing a Bollywood film "Once There Was a Tiger" for Ireland. This is the first time a major Bollywood production has been shot in Ireland and it will be a major boon to the economy. The film used an abundance of Dublin locations such as Trinity College, the Guinness brewery, Henrietta Street, Dublin Castle, the quays and Temple Bar. Tourism Ireland has stated that countries such as Switzerland, Great Britain and New Zealand have reported a significant increase in tourism from India following the filming of Bollywood movies in their regions. Also, these major international productions employ many Irish workers and the skills base of these crews improve considerably. The workers are then available to contribute to and to improve the quality of Irish films.

The board has also supported and invested in the emerging Irish animation industry. Animation has grown in stature in 2011 with award wins and a strong presence at major events and festivals. It is timely to discuss Irish animation today because this week the Encounters Bristol International Film Festival is showcasing new Irish animation talent in partnership with the Irish Film Board. This year the festival highlights the work of Cartoon Saloon and its creative director and co-founder Tom Moore. In 2010, this company received a nomination for best animated feature at the Academy Awards for "The Secret of Kells". The festival hosted a special studio focus on the award-winning company, Brown Bag Films, and its co-founder Cathal Gaffney. I agree with James Hickey, the chief executive of the Irish Film Board, who stated, "The Irish animation industry is a hotbed of talent and creativity, and this special focus at the Animated Encounters Festival will provide a real insight into the diversity of the work being produced in Ireland right now." There is considerable untapped growth potential in this industry and the board's support of the animation industry should be encouraged. The potential is limitless in this field given our highly skilled workforce. Benefits would accrue to the Irish digital gaming industry as well since there is a high demand for people with a cross-over skills set.

My support for the Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill is a no-brainer. Currently, the Irish audiovisual industry is worth €557 million per year and employs approximately 6,000 people. There is vast potential in this sector. The benefits of raising the ceiling of the board's funding are tangible and substantial. First, simply put, the board's work has created jobs. Irish films employ skilled Irish workers and the various large-scale international productions employ large Irish crews. Second, international productions have improved the skills base of Irish workers and this will benefit the Irish film industry in the future. Third, more tax revenue comes into the Exchequer from the production of films in Ireland. Last, but not least, film is a great medium to advertise our wonderful country to the wider world. Tourism will be a major growth sector if the board continues its fine work. I have no hesitation in commending the Bill to the House.

See this speech in context