Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

These schemes seem to have no promise of a job upon completion.

Another common practice in the industry is contractors operating as the heads of departments and dictating to employees as if they were the employer. It is no secret that some of these individuals are the ones who insist that honest and outspoken employees be blacklisted. The recent "Prime Time" report was a hatchet job. The workers I have met are fighting for their livelihoods, so they will be boisterous in their arguments and in how they approach issues, but they are certainly not aggressive agitators, as was put forward in that "Prime Time" report. These men and women are being displaced for voicing legitimate concerns. They have worked in the industry for more than 20 years and know that there is trouble in every department, from costuming and cameras to props, art, locations, hair and makeup, construction, driving and so on. They claim that the industry needs to change. Production companies seem to believe that they do not have to give workers any right or follow any requirement by law, the law being the Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003 and the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. The companies give rights and follow the requirements on paper when they apply for grants, but not on the ground.

The people whom Deputy Broughan and I spoke to told us that they had worked in the industry for a long time and had seen bullying, blackballing and the consistent concern of crew members that they would not be on the next job if they asked for their basic rights and entitlements under the law. These people, who have families, children, mortgages and bills, are fighting for their livelihoods in this industry, which can well afford to pay workers a decent amount and offer them decent, quality and long-term job security.

It is a scandal that taxpayers' money could be used by an industry that perpetuates bogus self-employment. It is not acceptable. It is not for the Opposition to determine how to resolve this issue. We will assist, but it must be done by the workers, employers and Government in accordance with industrial laws.

The Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection has launched an investigation into bogus self-employment. I have requested that the workers affected in the film industry be invited to the committee. I do not know how our investigation would support the Minister's interest in this situation, as we would be inviting people from a number of industries, including English language teachers, in which respect there has been a catastrophe in recent days. It is important that we invite workers from the film industry who have been impacted by this situation. The committee will investigate whether there is rampant bogus self-employment in the industry and how that might impact on workers, and determine how to feed its examination into the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection's investigation into such jobs.

I do not know whether I can support the Bill. As Deputy Boyd Barrett mentioned, it is a proud industry because people can watch a big movie and say that it came from Ireland. The many people involved in the industry would make one proud. However, we cannot continue to facilitate an industry over which there are serious question marks. This issue does not just arise in the film industry, but right across the board. As the Parliament, we have a responsibility to tackle it.

There should be a register of employees, trainees and apprenticeships in the film industry. There used to be registers previously, so having them back would assist in protecting workers. The Irish Film Board is composed of producers, directors and actors, but not workers. I was about to say "directly employed workers", but they are not even directly employed in the film industry. They are in bogus self-employment.

The joint committee will play a role in the Department's investigation by investigating the allegations that have been made to the scope section of the Department and appealed to its appeals office by employers. I would have to think long and hard about this Bill and would support any amendment that strengthened workers' rights in the industry. If we are to give more leeway and opportunities to producers to make more money, that money must go into workers' pockets in the form of proper pay and job security.

See this speech in context