Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

On the last point, in some ways I agree with the Minister that laws cannot be disapplied but the problem is the frustration for people when the law is being ignored. The point Deputy Ó Murchú was making is that one of the problems is that to avail of section 481, companies are set up, which then disappear, so the Minister does not have recourse to chase after them after the fact. When artists try to start a process - and the courts move very slowly - at that stage the production is completed and the vehicle that was set up to avail of section 481 has disappeared. It is quite clear.

Very few artists have the luxury of being able to challenge what is put in front of them. They are asked to sign away their rights, and I can quote contracts that artists have been asked to sign where they specifically state the artist acknowledges that the "fees payable herein constitute a complete buyout of all rights contemplated hereunder". That is a buyout and that is contrary to law, but artists are not going to be in a position if they want an income there and then or over the following couple of months to waive that because the contract I am referring to also states: "No artist can render on-camera services until the artist agreement has been signed by the artist". They are being held at ransom: "Sign this, or you will not work." That is not the type of industry we want.

I will come back to another point, which shows that there can be discrimination between people employed in England to work in Ireland and people who are contracted directly here.

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