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

As I said, I would welcome suggestions from the Deputy on how we could get the unions to come together. The Deputy will be aware that SIPTU will not allow the Irish Film Workers Association, with which, as far I am aware, he is working, to come to the table. Screen Ireland and the Department want it to happen and it is hoped that Mr. Kieran Mulvey will be successful in bringing people together. Mr. Mulvey has been engaged to start conversation. The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland, which represents the majority of Irish film workers, has expressed concern about ongoing labour relations issues, including wild cat protests and intimidation, which it says was instigated by a minority of workers within the film industry and is causing long-term damage to Ireland on the global stage and is not representative of its members.

I understand that Mr. James Hickey of Screen Ireland wrote to Deputies Boyd Barrett and Tóibín on 5 November in regard to the issues raised in the "Prime Time" programme.

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