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

There have been many contributions. I thank the Dáil and acknowledge Members' interest and support on Second Stage. I have taken note of the various views expressed and will try to answer some as best I can. It was heartening to witness the engagement on and interest in some of the issues that were raised. It showed the Deputies' collective interest in the audiovisual sector.

Deputy Smyth is not present, but she indicated her support for the Bill. I noted her positive contribution regarding the industry in general. She wants to see gender parity in the industry, which we will address by 2020 through many various measures.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh broadly welcomed the Bill. I acknowledge his points about section 481. The Minister for Finance has extended that relief to 2024. The Deputy also discussed terms and conditions and queried the statistics on the numbers employed.

Regarding the training regime, Screen Skills Ireland has responsibility for skills as the national skills development agency. Recommendations were made. Deputy Ó Snodaigh mentioned the joint Oireachtas committee report. Screen Ireland has put in place a sub-committee of its board to cover training and skills and to act on the recommendations listed in both reports. Through this training advisory sub-committee, Screen Ireland has commenced work on some of the recommendations, including business skills development, matching of skills with production growth and greater alignment with third level sector and network training.

Regarding Deputy Ó Snodaigh's comments on employment in general, my colleague, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, is introducing legislation that will improve the security and predictability of working hours for employees on insecure contracts, which is an issue that Deputy Boyd Barrett also raised. The joint Oireachtas committee made a number of recommendations and Screen Ireland is considering them. Both Deputies mentioned an industry forum. As they know, it is being worked on. We are trying to see how matters can progress in that regard.

Regarding section 481, officials from my Department are engaging with the Revenue Commissioners on the new arrangements concerning training issues.

Deputy Burton raised a number of queries. We are putting a significant amount of money - €1.5 billion - into the audiovisual sector, as well as €200 million into the audiovisual action plan, over the next ten years. Screen Ireland has 140 projects for distribution and 700 for development.

Many Deputies raised the issue of employment. In particular, Deputy Boyd Barrett spoke about how many people were employed or not employed. From our information, there are 16,930 people working full time in the industry. Since last year, there has been an increase in this budget of €2 million to €20.4 million.

Deputy Burton referenced the gender pay gap. We are considering a gender pay gap information Bill. She also mentioned Cork, but I will have to look into that matter to see what support she meant. There is a great deal of regional support in Limerick where Troy Studios is located. The Deputy acknowledged the importance of the Irish film industry, which I echo. She supports creativity and innovation, which is fine.

Deputy Boyd Barrett mentioned it mainly with regard to Screen Ireland and the training regime. About 60 courses in 2017 were run by Screen Skills Ireland. It provided training for about 1,558 individuals in 2017. More than 25 industry professionals availed of the bursary scheme and trained overseas. There was targeted and strategic training for the animation sector, which is growing at an exponential rate. Work-based learning initiatives are being implemented.

Disputes and conflicts were looked at by the Oireachtas committee. It proposed a forum. Some of my officials met Deputy Boyd Barrett last week regarding this Bill. There is urgency with regard to increasing the statutory limit so, from that perspective, it is a technical Bill. I agree with the Deputy that it probably should have been done before this, but it was not, so it must be done. Otherwise, we will not be in a position to do anything. There is time to bring forward amendments. If the Deputy wants to do so, that is at his discretion. The Deputy will know that my Department and Screen Ireland are examining the options, but there are challenges relating to all of these matters.

I thank the Deputies for raising the issues. Screen Ireland has a dual mandate to develop Irish film-making and audiovisual production talent that can engage audiences at home and abroad while maintaining and building the resources, craft and skills of the Irish industry by attracting international productions to Ireland. I think most of the Deputies would accept that we want to ensure that Ireland remains attractive to the film industry. An unprecedented amount of money will go into this area over the next few years. There is general goodwill in respect of this area in Ireland. In my opening remarks, I mentioned some Academy awards and Golden Globe awards we have won across the spectrum, including animation, which is a new and growing sector. Evidence of the necessity for legislation is borne out by Screen Ireland's activity in recent years. I outlined that earlier. The film and television industries are very labour-intensive and, by its very nature, any investment in production creates employment. Every euro invested by Screen Ireland in production produces a multiple return on that investment.

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I hope this Bill will enable us to copper-fasten Ireland's reputation as a centre of excellence in all matters audiovisual over the next few years.

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