Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Bill. Film is one of the most important cultural mediums of the present age. Given a choice between reading the book The Da Vinci Code or watching the film, many will take the easy option of watching the film. The Minister has been a strong advocate of the film industry both in terms of tax incentives and in legislation. Experience has shown there is no point supporting the film industry by half measures. If one attempts to do so, one simply loses competitiveness. Many of our competitors have little compunction about the generosity of their incentives and if we wish to have a film industry, we must be the same.

The film industry embraces more than just Irish subjects. Since the 1940s the fields of Agincourt have been located in Ireland, as have the Normandy beaches and the plains of central Europe in the film "Barry Lyndon". Ireland can be converted into almost anywhere, possibly excepting the jungles of Peru. There is immense potential for the industry. I pay tribute to the many film successes which have done something for Ireland. John Huston's "The Dead", based on James Joyce's story, is one of the most beautiful films I have seen. One must also not forget series such as "Strumpet City" and if I wish to relax, I love to watch "The Irish RM". "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" is an excellent if somewhat sobering and thought-provoking film.

I wish the film industry good fortune. I am glad there are projects in the pipeline but we will not have a successful industry if we try to do it by half measures.