Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

On the issues of origin or ancestry, I do not agree that they are really captured and that they are the same. Ancestry covers, for example, people who may be second or third generation Irish and that is fine. It is good that is covered. Origin also covers persons who may only have spent a period of time in Ireland. I do not agree that ancestry covers those things. I urge the Minister to check this because the question on human rights is not actually a philosophical question; it is a legal and legislative question. By framing it in this way where there is an inclusion, the Minister is out of line with the human rights and equality legislation and with other legislation where human rights and equality, rather than human rights, including equality, is the norm in terms of what is used. I do not want this legislation to be inconsistent with other legislation in that regard. It is not really a philosophical question; it is a legislative drafting question and it is important that we endeavour to be consistent with other areas.

Whether amendment No. 208 is accepted and whether specific percentages are included as set out by Senator Warfield, there is an opportunity in this legislation to set a very ambitious measure and choose to say that there will be a percentage. This is the positive ask. It is not simply like responsibility. This is a huge opportunity that we should seize. I do not know about the capping but we should seize the opportunity to say that there will at least be a minimum. We should not apologise for doing that. We should not delegate it solely to the commission as to whether this will be done. We should say that this is a chance for a massive leap forward. If we do not do it, and other countries put in percentages in respect of the levies for producing works, we will have lost that space.This directive is being transposed across Europe. The countries that seize this moment in terms of interesting content being produced are going to benefit. We have a risk, as was mentioned. Our tax measures have been copied all over the world. I do not want us a few years down the line to be starting to try to copy the way in which other countries introduce the content levy. Let us seize the moment now.