Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I move:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 177, Standing Order 131 is modified to permit an instruction to the Committee to which the National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015 may be recommitted in respect of certain amendments, for which it has power to make provision in the Bill in relation to:(a) changing the name of the Irish Film Board to Screen Ireland or in the Irish language Fís Éireann; and

(b) giving effect to the change of name of the Irish Film Board in all enactments, legal proceedings, statutory instruments and all other documents;and to change the title of the Bill to take account of these provisions.

The amendments I am introducing to this Bill are necessary to change the name of the Irish Film Board. As the National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill was in the process of being enacted, I considered that the most effective way to give effect to this change of name was through this Bill. The Bill deals with one of the agencies under my auspices. The Irish Film Board also operates under my auspices. As both agencies operate in the cultural arena, this Bill offered the means to give effect to the change of name in a timely manner.

The current full name of the Irish Film Board, the Irish Film Board-Bord Scannán na hÉireann, has been considered out of date when used in an international arena. The use of the word "film" in the title is considered limiting. The proposal to change the name to Screen Ireland or Fís Éireann will reflect the broader remit of the agency as the promoter of the Irish film, television and animation sector.

The Irish Film Board is our primary agency for promoting and supporting the audiovisual sector. Its work extends far beyond the traditional realm of film and encompasses the domestic and international television sector as well as our growing animation sector.

The board is supportive of this change and the change of name can only take place by way of legislation. In fact, I had agreed verbally with the late Bill O'Herlihy, former chair of the Irish Film Board, shortly before his sudden death that I would make this change.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister. I have no particular difficulty with this change. The Minister has not given us any great understanding of the need to achieve this or what significant difference it will make whether we call it the Irish Film Board, Screen Ireland or Fís Éireann. In fact, I wonder about the translation, "Fís Éireann". I do not know whether that is the most appropriate translation of what the Minister is proposing but I assume her officials have looked at that.

I am conscious that the British Film Institute has not renamed itself to, for example, "Screen UK", but it is successful. Bord Scannán na hÉireann or the Irish Film Board has been successful. It would be appropriate to recognise the outstanding service given by the late great Bill O'Herlihy to that particular board and to acknowledge the considerable success this country has experienced in recent years in the audiovisual sector. It has been most impressive. The list of international awards coming to the sector has been impressive. I read of a figure of €550 million of a benefit to the economy, with 6,000 employed in the sector and more than 500 small enterprises involved.

All this is very positive and the future looks bright. Every Deputy wants to support the continued expansion and development of the talent and genius that exists in the sector and the Minister is committed to it. While we have no difficulty with the proposal, I do not see it as a matter of major significance requiring legislation. I would like to be further convinced that in renaming the Irish Film Board, something else is happening in the Department - that it marks a willingness on the part of the Department to more actively and aggressively support and promote the work of the board and achieve greater investment in it.

Investment in the sector returns real dividends to the Irish economy through both the employment opportunities that can be generated and the way it conveys to the world a sense of the dynamism that exists in Ireland. It is probably the most powerful method we have of communicating with the world, of saying Ireland is open for business across a spectrum of areas in which the country can avail of international investment and encourage the continued development of the tourism sector. While the tourism sector is doing well, we must continue to grow it into the future. I support what the Minister is doing, but I would like to hear that there is additional oomph behind it. My party has no problem with what the Minister is about.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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The overall aim of the Bill is provide a statutory basis for the conversion of the National Concert Hall from a company limited by guarantee to a statutory body. The motion, which is technical in nature, changes the name of the Irish Film Board to Screen Ireland, in Irish Fís Éireann, and gives effect to the change of name in all enactments, legal proceedings, statutory instruments and all other documents. The Title of the Bill is also changed to take account of this. We have no difficulty supporting the changes.