Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Amendments Nos. 274 to 277, inclusive, provide for consultation on preparing content production schemes between an coimisiún and Screen Ireland and provide that anyone can apply for funding under a scheme. Amendments Nos. 287 to 290, inclusive, allow for the Minister to provide by order that Screen Ireland may make a scheme and that an coimisiún should fund one.

Amendments Nos. 278 and 279 clarify that all aspects of the development of European works may benefit from funding under a content production scheme. Amendment No. 279 also brings the content production scheme into line with the sound and vision scheme, pursuant to section 154(2)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 2009, in respect of requirements that audiovisual programmes funded under the scheme are made available on a free television service or video on-demand service.

Amendment No. 280 sets out that at least 80% of annual funding provided through a scheme must be allocated to independent producers. Our approach will also ensure a minimum of 25% of funds raised through a content production scheme must be allocated to the production of Irish language content.

Amendments Nos. 281 to 286, inclusive, set out the guidelines and principles to be followed in defining "independent producers" for the purposes of any scheme. In particular, the amendments provide that an independent producer may be defined by reference to the ownership of rights to use commercially any programme supported under a scheme. This is aimed at promoting the retention of rights in the Irish audiovisual sector.