Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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92. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will commission a report on work and conditions in the Irish film industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1709/19]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Last year, my Department published a wide-ranging comprehensive report on the Irish audiovisual industry which had been commissioned by Department along with the Departments of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and Communications, Climate Action and the Environment. The Economic Assessment of the Audio-Visual Industry in Ireland was carried out by international consultants Olsberg SPI with Nordicity.

At the same time I launched the Audio-visual Action Plan an industry-wide, long-term plan, under the Creative Ireland Programme. This Plan represents the Government’s ambition to enable Ireland to become a global hub for the production of Film, TV drama and animation. The Plan is underpinned by significant research and extensive consultation with stakeholders across the industry.

Research was undertaken into the economic impact of the Audio-Visual Industry in Ireland and into training and skills development in the industry. The Action Plan places strong emphasis on actions relating to both training and the Section 481 tax relief.

The Government has established an Audiovisual High Level Steering Group to implement the Audiovisual Action Plan. The Steering Group provides for a whole-of-Government approach to the audiovisual industry with representatives from all Government Departments and State Agencies that have an involvement with the audiovisual industry.

As with every industry, the Irish film industry must observe employment law. In addition, everyone in the industry is entitled to a workplace which is dignified and free from bullying, harassment and intimidation of any kind. Screen Ireland is pro-active in this area and in recent years has provided a series of seminars on topics related to dignity in the workplace.

The Employment Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2018 was enacted in December. This legislation introduces important new protections for workers in sectors where employment terms are perceived to be becoming more precarious.

Meanwhile my Department continues to work with the Audiovisual High Level Steering Group to address issues in the audiovisual industry, and to support the industry and to the people who work in it. In light of these measures, I have, at present, no plans to commission such a report.