Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome today's debate. I am a music technology graduate and I completed a master's degree and graduated in September 2008. We all know what happened at that time. The outlook was bleak for anyone who came into the artistic field at the time, given the economic challenges.

Obviously, I pursued careers in different circles and did not think I would be standing here today speaking on the subject. However, I welcome the thrust of the motion to the effect that funding will be increased as the economy grows and develops and as it now is in a recovery, this is to be welcomed.

Another personal facet is that I take part in short films and I am a short film actor. I have worked on many projects in Limerick and note that festivals there, such as the Richard Harris International Film Festival and the Limerick Film Festival, are in their infancy. They have been held over the past three or four years. They are now growing and should be supported. Such festivals should also be supported because of the economic development they generate. To share a story, I remember how, when I travelled to Australia in the 1990s in the pre-Internet era, the likes of U2 or the Cranberries were the medium that could market this country. Every time one spoke to somebody, particularly in that age group and in popular culture, the first thing they would mention was U2 or for Limerick in particular, the Cranberries. That could be heard in every place to which I went. However, the Irish do it better than anybody else when it comes to scenes or generating music movements. Consider what was done with Riverdance 20 years ago, where they mixed popular culture with traditional culture and Riverdance was born to modernise and change the face of Irish dancing. It is a scene that continues to stand the test of time, whereas other scenes in popular culture have come and gone. Consequently, I reiterate the Irish do it better than anybody else. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton should note I will be slightly tribal by stating Limerick obviously also has a bid in for 2020. It has my full support, having worked on it as a county councillor and now as a Deputy. I again welcome the Government's move regarding the €70 million tax break for films and note Troy Studios is coming to Limerick, whereby economic adversity was turned into an artistic opportunity that now has Limerick at the forefront of film-making. Hopefully, some major projects will be welcomed into the area.

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