Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy and the members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for the work they undertook to produce the report on the development and working conditions in the Irish film industry. I note it was launched last July just a few weeks after the Government published its audiovisual action plan. Both the committee's report and the action plan have similar objectives in that they both seek to develop and improve employment in the audiovisual industry.

The committee's report highlights the fact that "Section 481 is a key and central component within the Irish Film Industry" and that it should "remain central in the industry into the future". Likewise the audiovisual action plan identifies section 481 as a "critical support for the Irish production sector, generating jobs, and providing a strong value proposition for the public purse". There is significant overlap across recommendations of the action plan and the Oireachtas committee report, of which the Deputy is probably aware, particularly in the areas of section 481 and training.

One of the key inputs to the audiovisual action plan is a report by international audiovisual consultants Olsberg SPI with Nordicity that identified the challenges faced by the Irish audiovisual industry and provided policy responses. One of the consultant's key recommendations was the establishment of an oversight steering group charged with the overall implementation of the plan's recommendations. This steering group has been established and has met twice since the action plan was published last July. The group includes representatives of all Departments and State agencies with involvement in the audiovisual industry.

I am pleased to advise that the report of the Oireachtas committee was discussed at the recent meeting of the steering group which took place on 27 September. This included discussions regarding the importance of section 481, compliance of the industry with aspects of tax and employment law, and the holding of specific conferences and workshops to consider the development of the industry, including the need for an appropriate forum to consider employment issues. Further work is being carried out on all these initiatives and announcements in regard to them will be made in due course. The steering group will report to me at regular intervals. I thank the Deputy for his question.

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