asked the Minister for Defence if he will make a statement giving details of the extent of participation by the Defence Forces in the making of a recent feature film; if, in particular, any expenses were incurred through such participation; and whether any payment was made by the film company to the members of the Defence Forces or to Army authorities for those services.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Defence Forces Participation in Film.
99.
Personnel of the Defence Forces have been made available to Twentieth Century-Fox Productions Ltd. for different periods and in varying numbers since the 31st May, 1965, in connection with the making by that company of the film "The Blue Max". As the details of the personnel made available are in the form of a tabular statement, I propose with your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, to have the statement circulated in the Official Report.
The personnel in question received their normal pay and allowances direct from my Department in respect of the periods during which their services were made available for the purposes of the film. The arrangements made with the company provided, generally, for the refund of all expenses incurred by my Department in the matter and, in particular, for the refund of the cost of the pay, allowances and all other emoluments of the personnel concerned for the periods involved. The arrangements also provided for the payment to the personnel by the company of certain gratuities.
Following is the statement:
I. PERSONNEL other than Air Corps and Army Band Personnel.
|
Period during which personnel were made available |
Number made available |
|
31/5/65 to 25/7/65 |
Varying numbers not exceeding 45 on any day. |
|
26/7/65 to 29/7/65 |
155 |
|
30/7/65 |
274 |
|
2/8/65 to 12/8/65 |
1,096 |
|
14/8/65 |
201 |
|
24/8/65 |
119 |
|
25/8/65 |
32 |
|
9/9/65 to 10/9/65 |
150 |
|
11/9/65 to 19/9/65 |
30 |
|
21/9/65 to 30/9/65 |
50 |
|
10/10/65 |
140 |
|
11/10/65 to 12/10/65 |
120 |
II. AIR Corps Personnel.
|
Period during which personnel were made available |
Number and class made available |
|
26/6/65 to 8/10/65 |
8 officer pilots |
|
9/10/65 to date |
4 officer pilots. |
|
12/8/65,, ,, |
1 Air Control Officer. |
|
26/6/65,, ,, |
12 technicians. |
|
11/8/65 to 6/9/65 |
41 (various ranks). |
|
27/9/65 to 29/9/65 |
38 (various ranks). |
|
5/10/65 to 8/10/65 |
66 (various ranks). |
|
11/10/65 to date |
36 (various ranks). |
III. ARMY Band Personnel.
|
Period during which personnel were made available |
Number made available |
|
23/9/65 |
No. 1 Army Band (38 members) + Conductor. |
|
26/9/65 |
4 members of No. 1 Band +two Conductors. |
|
28/9/65 |
15 members of Band of Curragh Training Camp +Conductor. |
|
29/9/65 |
(1) 15 members of Band of Curragh Training Camp. |
|
(2) 4 members of No. 1 Army Band + two Conductors. |
|
|
30/9/65 |
4 members of No. 1 Band, 4 members of Band of Curragh Training Camp + two Conductors. |
|
1/10/65 |
4 members of No. 1 Band + Conductor. |
|
2/10/65 |
do.do. |
|
6, 7, 8/10/65 |
14 members of Band of Curragh Training Camp +Conductor. |
|
11, 12, 13/10/65 |
No. 1 Army Band (38 members)+Conductor. |
NOTE: The Air Corps pilots were not made available full time during the periods mentioned but only as required.
Would the Minister like to hazard a guess as to whether or not the gratuities, etc., paid to the men would be less or more than would have been paid to "extras" from outside the Army, if so employed?
I have no information as to the amount per day or per week that is payable by companies such as this to outside personnel. I do know what our own personnel got?
Would they be getting more than £1 a day?
They got £1 in certain cases and more than £1 in others, with this stipulation, that for a certain period, from 2nd August, 1965, to 12th August, 1965, they got a minimum of £5 each. That was for certain personnel. Air Corps pilots got £6 per flying hour for the period they were flying for the company on film-making.
It appears that they got very little in comparison with what other people would get.
I have no idea what other people would get.
The Minister could inquire.