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

He did not receive a verbal or a written warning. He did not receive an opportunity to reply or appeal. It was a tense meeting today which reflected what has happened in the industry in the past ten years. Heretofore there would have been a panel of workers to which the industry could go for a carpenter or a props man. It allowed for continuous work but the workers in question have not had that in the last period of time.

Last time I spoke on this matter, I raised the issue of trainees. There seems to be some movement on that but there are still many outstanding issues. The right of workers to organise into their own trade union and have the right to be able to negotiate with the industry is crucial. There should be panels separate from the production companies from which available workers and trainees can be allocated.

Despite what the Minister said, there is a need for this forum to take place with an independent chair which can deal with these issues. One cannot have a situation where a considerable number of expert workers in the field are being blacklisted. I cannot stand over that as a public representative and legislator with public money going into the industry. If the forum does not go ahead, funding to the film industry should be stopped like what happened in the Abbey Theatre when there were issues around workers’ rights there. That got everybody to the table quickly. Action of that nature needs be taken with this forum.

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