Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The national enterprise awards take place in the Mansion House tonight. I wish well the representatives from my home county, Longford, namely Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney from Harp Media. These two young lads have entered the TV industry and forged a name for themselves. In their home county, they filmed the notable film "Lakelands", which went on to receive international acclaim. They are moving on to bigger and better things. I wish them success this evening.

At an Oireachtas committee meeting held yesterday we had representatives of various independent production companies and Screen Producers Ireland. Funding mechanisms have changed and we have many tax incentives to attract those in the film industry to produce films in Ireland, but we need to have a regional aspect. The whole industry should not be based in Dublin and Wicklow. I mean no disrespect to those two counties or their representatives. If a company comes here, it is important that it be able to film anywhere within the country on a level playing field. I support the proposal Screen Producers Ireland made in this regard at the Oireachtas committee meeting yesterday.

Last week, everybody here was involved in our autism-friendly Parliament project. Everyone took part in our awareness training. The entire Houses of the Oireachtas Service supported the project, which took place mainly in 2023, and we received our accreditation in January of this year. We have the highest standard of any parliament in the world. Just last week, the first class to visit under the initiative, from Ardscoil Phádraig, Longford, on whose board of management I have been for the past 15 years, came to Leinster House with their special needs assistants and teachers and had a fantastic day. Since the visit, I have spoken to the principal and special education teachers. They and parents who contacted me wish to thank everybody for supporting the children ahead of and on the day to ensure they would have a fantastic day, just like every other child who comes to Leinster House. I thank everybody, including the Ceann Comhairle, the staff in all the services, the catering team and the ushers, who made the day such a special one for the students of Ardscoil Phádraig.We can look forward to students from any school in Ireland who come here having an enjoyable day and being supported. That is important. I wanted to put that on the record.