Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I appreciate the opportunity to speak on this Bill which will raise the ceiling on the cumulative amount the Irish Film Board can provide to support the production and development of Irish films during the lifetime of the organisation. I welcome the changes in the Bill and look forward to the benefits that these improvements can bring to the wider film and entertainment industry in Ireland.

In 2010 the industry as a whole bucked the employment trend and became a net employment contributor. Furthermore the sector contributed more than €170 million to the Exchequer in 2010. Increasing the level to €300 million will enable the Irish Film Board to assist and encourage film making and the development of a thriving Irish film industry.

Today we have an opportunity to consider and discuss the work nationally and internationally of the Irish Film Board. An important feature of the work of the Irish Film Board is to collaborate on and attract investment for international projects. It is important for us to debate film making here in Ireland and to reflect on from where the Irish Film Board came and where we want it to go. The Irish Film Board was established in 1981 under the Department of Industry and Commerce. Since then it moved to the Department of the Taoiseach and to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. It spent some time in the wilderness between 1987 and 1993. However, that year the Government introduced three pieces of legislation that laid the foundation for the creation of an Irish audiovisual content production industry. The Broadcasting Act was amended to include a requirement for RTE to ring-fence funding for independent production companies. Section 481 of the Finance Act was amended to provide a competitive tax incentive for film and television, and Bord Scannán na hÉireann, the Irish Film Board, was reconstituted. Additionally, the availability of EU funds through the MEDIA programme and the establishment of TG4 in the 1990s have all been important steps in the ongoing development of the industry.

Recent growth has led to the strengthening of the Irish audiovisual sector in the Dublin, Wicklow and, more recently, Galway areas. The technological developments that have facilitated the growth of the industry in the Gaeltacht - once considered a remote area - can now facilitate similar growth in other areas of Ireland that have shown an interest in and dedication to developing growth in the Irish film industry.

According to its annual report for 2009, the Irish Film Board's objectives are to promote the creative and commercial elements of Irish film-making and film culture at home and abroad. Film projects are supported through the provision of development funding and production finance via debt-equity investment. An important objective is to encourage the development and training of technical, artistic and production personnel to improve overall skills proficiency in the industry. It is also an objective to assist the production and marketing of Irish films to stimulate an interest in and awareness of Ireland, Irish culture and Irish films.

Evidence of the benefit of the work of the Irish Film Board and the other incentives can be seen when we examine employment levels in the audiovisual industry. The industry encompasses a range of activities including writing, commercials and corporate video production, audio studios and digital content production companies. In 1991, some 694 full-time jobs were recorded. These numbers have increased to 5,440 in 2007.

According to the report, Creative Capital: Building Ireland's Audiovisual Creative Economy, published this year "Creative capital is the intrinsically human ability to create new ideas, new technologies, new business models, new cultural forms and whole new industries". I believe that this little country of ours has creative capital which is the envy of bigger nations. The report identified the strengths and weaknesses of the Irish film industry and made recommendations to Government. It recommended specific policies that will equip the industry to successfully enter the next phase of its growth from a predominantly domestic platform into international markets. It recommended a framework of policies and initiatives for Government that will stimulate growth over a five-year period which would double the value of the Irish audiovisual industry to more than €1 billion; increase direct employment in the industry from 5,440 to more than 10,000; and increase exports of Irish audiovisual production.

It also recommended policies that are achievable, cost neutral, and that maximise the employment potential of the audiovisual content production industry. To develop the industry and build strong companies it has recommended that section 481 to be extended from 2015 to 2020. Concerns were expressed a few years ago about proposals to withdraw section 481 tax relief. I am glad it was extended at that time and I hope it will continue. It also recommended an annual international television co-production fund with high economic return; industry-wide industrial relations consultation with a view to concluding comprehensive agreements, which needs to be done as a matter of urgency; establishing a piracy prevention and policy group; and continuing broadband roll-out and investment in digital sites, which is critical for the regional areas.

A strategic plan concentrating on audiovisual exports should be prepared by the relevant agencies, Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Film Board, Culture Ireland, and the Irish Film Institute, in consultation with the industry. The great work the Irish Film Institute undertakes in the preservation of Irish film and the exposition of international film does not get sufficient recognition. This plan should include metrics to measure cultural exports. The global market is projected to grow at a rate of 30% over the next five years.

It is helpful to acknowledge some facts and figures about the industry. In 2007, the industry had an annual economic value of more than €550 million and sustained more than 500 Irish-owned companies. The Irish Film Board review of the industry has revealed that the audiovisual content sector is valued at €557.3 million. Some 567 companies operate within the sector, comprising production companies, post-production companies and service producers. Most are Dublin based with 85% involved in production including documentary-factual, short-film and film genres. This is something I would like to see addressed. I believe that support for regional film offices would not diminish the industry in Dublin but would enable production companies located regionally to become involved in bigger production. If local interns were taken on when productions are being filmed in the regions then very soon a pool of skilled or semi-skilled people would be built up with the locality benefiting.

In my constituency of Laois-Offaly, I was proud to initiate the formation of the local film commission, FilmOffaly, almost five years ago. An offshoot from this has been OFFIine, a film festival now in its second year. Last month we screened films, delivered workshops on diverse topics relevant to film making and had a 72-hour short film challenge. The benefit to the local economy could be evaluated among other things by the number of bed nights taken up by visiting film-makers and the use of services in the area. I welcome the emergence of similar agencies, including Screen West which emerged last year and Cork Screen Commission which was launched during last week's successful Cork Film Festival.

Who are these film makers? In general they are under 50, with the majority being male. Some 59% are educated to degree level at least and 41% continue in professional training. That is not to say that women are not making films here. Carmel Winters, Maya Derrington, Katie Holly and Nicky Gogan are all making their mark.

There are recommendations which need to be examined on training and talent development. Film Base which is funded by the Arts Council has been providing practical training to graduates over many years introducing a master's degree this year. I have no doubt some mechanism for connecting it with the Irish Film Board could be found. As this training organisation is already in existence, we should use it rather than setting up something else to compete with it.

Relationships with other agencies including Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland could be forged to work with the Irish Film Board to make a plan to attract foreign direct investment balancing the expertise and experience within each organisation. Developing relationships with third level institutions, including Ballyfermot College of Further Education, IADT, DIT and others is important in order for them to deliver courses to provide the skills required in the developing audiovisual and transmedia industries.

Success at the box office is a major challenge for Irish industry and does not reflect the high esteem in which Irish filmmaking is held internationally. Successes and awards received include Academy and Emmy awards, Golden Globes, as well as representation at Cannes, Sundance, Toronto and Berlin film festivals. Our Irish animation talent is now coming to international attention. Since relocation of the Sullivan Bluth studio to America in the 1980s, Irish animation has not featured too frequently. However, this has changed with Cartoon Saloon and Brown Bag Films taking international awards. The Irish Film Board and film makers must be more targeted in marketing Irish films. Overseas distributors and Hollywood films prevent Irish films accessing the screens and succeeding at the box office. I am glad to note "The Guard" recently bucked this trend.

A figure worth mention can be found in the Audio visual Federation Review 2011 which found that in 2010 film and television productions had a combined budget of approximately €388 million, with €204 million of that spent in the Irish economy. These are figures of which we need to take note. They are not be sniffed at. The benefits of attracting high levels of film and television production in Ireland include increased international investment in the economy, increased employment, positive spin-off effects for promoting Ireland as a tourist location and the improvement of Ireland as an industrial location for all aspects of creative endeavours. Perhaps the Acting Chairman will say when I am out of time.

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