Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)

I thank sincerely the three Senators for their important contributions to this debate. They bring significant knowledge of the industry and have raised a number of issues on which I would like to respond.

Like Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú, I too saw "Ryan's Daughter" in London, probably in 1971 or 1972, and from a Kerry perspective, I was very proud of it. I was in school in London at the time as I spent a year and a half in school in a place called Strawberry Hill. A number of us went to see the film and I was very proud among Irish friends of being from that part of Ireland. The film also resonated with the audience, who were a multicultural audience. The film was on in the West End and the scenery had a wow factor. While the story line was very good, it was the scenery that really captured people's attention and appreciation. I have met several people since over the years, in places like the top of Brandon Mountain, who were in west Kerry because of "Ryan's Daughter". I totally agree with the Senator about the village. There is a proposal currently to rebuild the village in a different place and somebody was on to me last week about that. The loss of the village was a national loss and it was short-sighted to bulldoze it away. We can only imagine the attraction it would be now.

This gives me the opportunity to raise the issue of where "The Quiet Man" was filmed in Cong. This is something about which we may be able to do something. The cottage used in the film is now just a ruin and only some of the walls are left because people have come and taken away some of the stones. The cottage now only has a footprint on the ground and as a nation we should do something about that. The owner of the property lives in America and should be approached to lease or hand over the property to the nation. It does not reflect well on this country that the cottage where "The Quiet Man" was filmed is being allowed become derelict, while at the same time we are putting emphasis on the importance of the film. We celebrated its 60th anniversary this year and I was in Cong for the celebration, which was a major event. However, just down the road, the cottage used in the film will not exist for much longer. I am glad Senator Ó Murchú raised the issue and perhaps we can do something about it. I know a group has been set up to try to do something about preservation and I would like to help it in every way possible. The site should be preserved for the future of the film industry here. This would be advantageous for Cong and for the country. It is an important part of the archaeology of the Irish film industry.

I agree that film generally projects the country in a positive way. "The Field", "Ryan's Daughter", "Saving Private Ryan" and all the other great epic films I have mentioned have had considerable impact here. It is amazing too that "The Guard" has enjoyed such success, not alone here but abroad. It resonates and connects with audiences all over the world and will be one of the most successful films with an Irish connection ever made.

Senator Ó Murchú also raised the issue of the commemorations due to take place in the coming years, including 1916 and the Dublin lockout. I am chairman of the commemorations committee. It will all start next year. What triggered off 1916, which led eventually to the signing of the Treaty and the subsequent Civil War, was the introduction of the third Home Rule Bill in April 1912. People may not be aware of that, but that is where it all started, because that drew a response from Unionists, not only in Ulster but throughout the country. It led to the signing of the Ulster Covenant, which was signed by approximately 500,000 people, 30,000 of whom were from the South. On the other hand, there was a massive movement in support of the third Home Rule Bill. At the time, Redmond was as powerful as O'Connell or Parnell would have been previously. He addressed a meeting in O'Connell Street and the people were gathered so densely together that the commentator said one could walk on top of the people from the Parnell monument right down to the O'Connell monument. There were four platforms for speakers. Redmond was on one near the O'Connell monument, Pearse was on another and he spoke to the audience in Irish, MacNeill was on the third and I forget who was on the fourth. That was a major event because it drew that reaction from the Northern Unionist community, led by Carson, who was a Dublin man. The response was the Ulster Covenant and the setting up of the Volunteers, which was replicated here to support the Home Rule Bill.

It is important this is recognised and analysed. The third Home Rule Bill was giving us much more than the previous two unsuccessful Home Rule Bills. That process was interrupted by the war and what happened afterwards. However, that is where the commemorations will start. The cross-party committee will, hopefully, have a meeting before Christmas. We have already had one meeting and are considering a number of issues, including the future of Moore Street, and we will come up with a number of proposals. An academic group will also be assembled under the chairmanship of the former Senator, Maurice Manning, who is a very distinguished historian. He will assemble historians from the main colleges and universities here and elsewhere and they will consider the historical facts around 1916 and will direct the historic commemoration. I agree with Senator Ó Murchú that film can play an important role in the commemoration of 1916 and the other commemorations. There is important archival material available and it is important RTE has a strategy in that regard.

I was on the set of "Saving the Titanic" and spoke to some of the people there, the majority of whom were from local drama groups around the country, from Meath ,Dublin, etc. It was extraordinary how enthusiastic they were. They were learning all the time and they said they would be much better at amateur drama, which is what they do, because of that experience. I thank the Senator for that contribution. Last year, 20% of visitors came to Ireland because of what they saw on an Irish film.

I say to Senator Bradford that we may not become Hollywood, although in some ways Bollywood is bigger than Hollywood. There is a thriving film industry in India. It was a major development when two of the best known Indian film actors came to Dublin recently to film in Trinity College. Senator Bacik probably saw them.