Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 Oct 1996

Vol. 470 No. 7

Written Answers. - Film Production.

Liam Lawlor

Question:

118 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht his response to news that the British film industry, through its national lottery, is to receive funding equivalent to the entire EU fund for the encouragement of private sector investment in the European film and television industries; if he has assessed the likely impact of the British Lottery funding on this country's capacity to compete for English language films to be located in Ireland; the measures, if any, he is considering to address the impact of this intensification of competition for the location of English language foreign film productions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19958/96]

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins)

As a general principle, I believe that the existence of incentives for film production in other states offers the potential for Irish producers to engage in film co-productions with producers in those states and, therefore, that such incentives elsewhere have the potential to benefit the Irish film industry. A typical co-production arrangement of this sort would involve the producers in Ireland and in the co-producing state exploiting the film incentives available in both states. As a result, pre and post production work on the film might be undertaken in the partner country, while all or a significant element of the film shoot might be undertaken in Ireland.

Irish film producers have traditionally entered into co-production arrangements with British producers most often. To illustrate this point, I would draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that of the 11 feature film co-productions with an Irish involvement which have been supported by the Council of Europe's Co-production Fund, EURIMAGES, ten have involved a British coproducer. Moreover, Irish producers have co-produced with British partners in such major television dramas as "Ballykissangel", "The Governor" and "The Hanging Gale".

In these circumstances, the introduction of additional incentives for film production in Britain is a welcome development for the Irish industry, which is well placed to benefit through co-production mechanisms from these incentives. Such a process also offers the potential for the making of better quality films. I would emphasise to the Deputy in this regard that the existence of a comprehensive range of incentives for film production in Ireland up to 1999 is an essential aspect of the potential for Irish producers to enter into worthwhile co-productions with British producers and, indeed, producers elsewhere.