Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá mé ag tacú leis an mBille Bord Scannán na hÉireann (Leasú) 2018. Tá sé tábhachtach go ndéanaimid cosaint ar an infheistíocht atá déanta go dtí seo ag muintir na hÉireann sa ghnó scannáin. Tá sé tábhachtach go leanaimid ar aghaidh leis sin agus go ndéanaimid cinnte de go mbeidh infheistiú ó chomhlachtaí lasmuigh d'Éirinn agus ó chomhlachtaí in Éirinn sa ghnó seo ach go háirithe.

Is cuimhin liom nuair a toghadh mé i dtús báire go raibh ceist mhór faoin rud díreach atá faoi chaibidil againn anseo i section 481 agus an faoiseamh a bhí ar fáil dóibh agus go raibh dainséar ann ag an am go raibh go mbeimis ag fáil réidh leis. Is ceann de na cinntí maithe a rinneadh ag an am gur tugadh cosaint dó agus gur cuireadh leis ó shin. Inniu táimid ag déanamh iarracht cur leis na féidearthachtaí ghnó na scannánaíochta ach go háirithe chun a dhéanamh cinnte de go gcuirfimid leis an €1 milliún luach a deirtear go cuireadh le i 2016.

Tá a lán fostaithe ann sa ghnó agus aithním sna tuairiscí maidir leis an ngnó seo in Éirinn, go bhfuil beagnach 17,000 fostaithe. Sin a deir an tuairisc ach ní chreidim í agus tiocfaidh mé ar ais chuig an ábhar sin níos déanaí sa mhéid atá le rá agam.

The film industry is obviously a very important part of the cultural, artistic and economic life of Ireland. We have huge potential as a location and as a centre of creativity and artistic endeavour, as well as all of the other skill sets that those within the film industry, and some who have been shut out of it, can contribute if allowed. This legislation is welcome in that it helps to ensure that we can compete. When I was first elected, the danger was that if we got rid of section 481, we would allow other countries to steal a march on us. I do not think we have managed to get as much benefit as possible from the State's investment in the film industry. That is what section 481 does. It is an investment that encourages foreign and Irish companies to invest through a tax benefit.

In an industry such as this there are always concerns, problems and issues. I will propose an amendment on Committee Stage providing not just for a passing examination but for a full report into the terms and conditions of workers. The most recent economic analysis of the audiovisual sector in Ireland that I have seen suggests that we are supporting the employment of nearly 17,000 people. In all of my dealings with them, people who work at various levels of the film industry, including carpenters, security men, drivers of cars and trucks, stunt men, directors and those who polish the finished product so that we can see it, say that sometimes the calculation of the number engaged in the film industry is skewed. Sometimes people work twice or three times in a year. They are counted twice or three times in the accounts because they work for different companies as various films or opportunities come up. They are recorded as working full-time. They might work for six months for this company, three months for another then somewhere else for a further month. There are often quite long gaps between engagements. That is recorded as though three people were employed. It is a concern.

There are also huge concerns about those who are not recorded. To this day there are many workers serving indefinite internships without pay. There are those who are titled trainees but whose traineeships do not have end dates. I do not know whether all of the trainees are accounted as full-time personnel in the film industry. There is a job of work to be done in ascertaining exactly how many are working at a given time. Then we can properly assess the value of our contribution to the film industry here and abroad.

There are also questions about whether we are getting the full value out of our facilitation of the film industry. Some of the criteria or application forms could be tweaked so that more foreign money might be spent on film production. Sometimes that funding goes askew via Irish-based companies. I am told that for a foreign film company to avail of this, it must have an Irish producer, an Irish address or whatever.

The cost of going through some of the Irish companies may be greater than directly employing or recruiting staff. Those issues have been raised with me. I have not checked the veracity of the claims but in the absence of any indication to the contrary, it is key that they be addressed.

The issue of terms and conditions must be considered. Are workers paid overtime when the filming of a shoot which is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. and finish at 6 p.m. is extended until 10 p.m. by the director? I have been told they are not. If one complains, one will be blacklisted and not hired for the next set or film. This is a small island and it is a small industry, which makes it very easy to identify malcontents. Actors may be affected by such decisions, but those who do much of the real work - I do not suggest that acting is not real work - in terms of the heavy lifting of creating sets-----

See this speech in context