I propose to take Questions Nos. 3, 17, 20, 29 and 95 together.
On 30 March, 1993, I announced my intention to reactivate the Irish Film Board — Bord Scannán na hÉireann — and to establish a film production fund to promote the Irish film and audiovisual industry.
I have decided to appoint Ms. Lelia Doolan as chairperson of the board and I hope to announce the membership of the rest of the board before the end of May. The funding which will be provided to the Irish Film Board is currently under consideration, but I can assure the Deputy that adequate funding will be provided for the board this year to enable it to impact upon the Irish film and audiovisual industry in the short term.
The question of the setting of targets for the promotion of indigenous Irish film will be a matter for the board to decide, but I would expect that such targets will indeed be set. Similarly, it will be for the board to decide the way in which the funds made available to it will be allocated subject, of course, to the provisions of section 6 of the Irish Film Board Act, 1980. Section 6 (1) provides that the board "may invest in, or make a loan or a grant to defray in whole or part the cost of the making of a film wholly or partly made in the State. Section 6 (2) provides that "the making of an investment, loan or grant under this section shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may think proper, including terms and conditions relating to the repayment to the Board of any moneys paid by it and payment of interest on any such money."
I am of the opinion that there is at present an adequate range of technical facilities available in this country to ensure that the funds which I will put at the disposal of the Irish Film Board can be spent in Ireland. Since my announcement there have been welcome indications of investment in the industry and we can confidently look forward to the provision of further technical resources. The existence of a strong network of independent film producers and of a major studio facility at Ardmore Studios are just two cases in point. The whole reasoning behind my decision to develop the industry by means of a two-pronged approach — namely, the reactivation of the Irish Film Board and my proposals in relation to independent television production contained in the Broadcasting Authority (Amendment) Bill, 1993 — is precisely to exploit the technical facilities available in Ireland at present and the imaginative and creative skills which exist in that industry which have been underemployed.
The Irish Film Board and An Chomhairle Ealaíon are separate entities established by statute and there is no formal relationship between the two bodies. However, Deputies should be aware that "the cinema" was added to the definition of the arts by virtue of the Arts Act, 1973. This has enabled the Arts Council over the years to fund film-related organisations and to provide non-repayable grants to an amount of £100,000 per annum to film makers. At this stage, there are no proposals to discontinue the role of the Arts Council in this area but it is my intention to ensure that there will be no duplication of functions between the council and the Irish Film Board. I see them as being complementary to each other.
Although no formal relationship exists between the Arts Council and the Film Board, I am glad to say that the council is currently providing the board with the necessary administrative support while start-up arrangements are being put in place. I express my gratitude to the Arts Council and its director for this facility.
While the Programme for a Partnership Government 1993-97 committed the Government to the preparation of a White Paper on the film industry, I am of the opinion that the report of the special working group on the film production industry, which was submitted to the Taoiseach last December, takes into account adequately the views of the industry and the key state agencies. I was very pleased, therefore, to have obtained Government approval to move faster and bypass the preparation of a White Paper and to proceed with the publication of this report. I expect to be in a position to publish the report of the special work group on the film production industry next month.