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

As I stated in an earlier reply, I thank the members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for the work undertaken to produce the report, which was published last July, just a few weeks after the Government launched its audiovisual action plan. The committee's report and the audiovisual action plan have significant overlap and share the objectives of developing the Irish audiovisual industry and improving employment within it, which goes to the heart of the Deputy's question.

A steering group has been established to implement the audiovisual action plan and has already met twice since the action plan was published. The group includes representatives of all Departments and State agencies that have an interest or involvement in the audiovisual industry.

The report of the joint committee was discussed at the recent meeting of the steering group 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.

On the specific details supplied by the Deputy, it is important to note that employees in every industry and sector are entitled to all existing legal protections. I draw attention to legislation being brought forward by my colleague, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection. The Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 will improve the security and predictability of working hours for employees on insecure contracts and those working variable hours. This legislation responds specifically to the commitment in A Programme for a Partnership Government to address the problems caused by the increased casualisation of work and to strengthen the regulation of precarious work. I am happy to report that the Bill completed Report and Final Stages in the Dáil on 12 July 2018 and it is anticipated that it will be introduced in the Seanad this autumn.

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