Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 17: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will report on his visit to the United States, in particular his meeting with individuals and groups designed to promote the Irish film industry; the outcomes of such discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5325/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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During my recent visit to the United States, I met the major film studios there to impress on them what Ireland can offer as a location for film-making. These include our use of the English language, our historical links, particularly with the United States, the very high skill and experience levels of our film professionals, our relatively low level of bureaucracy, and the variety of locations available within quite short distances of one another. The Government has done its part in that film producers now have certainty going forward, as the section 481 scheme has been extended to 2008, with the amount that can be raised increasing from €10.48 million to €15 million from 2005.

Those met included: Universal Pictures; Walt Disney Studios-Buena Vista International; Paramount Pictures; Sony Pictures; Jerry Bruckheimer Films; 20th Century Fox; Miramax; Greenstreet Films; Imagine Entertainment; and Focus Features.

Of course, at these meetings, the studio executives outlined some of the competitive factors facing Ireland in the market for mobile film finance, including competition from new EU member states where wage rates, in particular, are lower than in Ireland, the unfavourable euro-dollar exchange rate, the proliferation of incentive schemes elsewhere, and some infrastructural issues.

While in the US, I indicated that I had under consideration basing an Irish film sector representative in Los Angeles who would be charged with effectively communicating with film industry executives on what Ireland can offer, and better informing us at home about the critical factors that sway decisions by studios about where to film.