Vol. 475 No. 3
26 Mr. Davern asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the reason section 35 certificates were issued by him to a film promoter (details supplied) at a time when the promoter involved was experiencing serious financial difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4688/97]
At the time the certificates referred to by the Deputy were issued to the promoter's companies, there was no substantive information available to my Department indicating that the promoter was experiencing serious financial difficulties.
Information subsequently became available to me concerning the financial difficulties of the promoter, following the issue by me of a replacement certificate in respect of one project — which incidentally facilitated the completion of that project by another producer. On foot of this I issued a direction to the promoter indicating that no section 35 funds were to be raised on foot of a certificate issued in respect of another project until outstanding issues had been answered to my satisfaction and this to be conveyed by me in writing. The promoter acknowledged my direction and confirmed that the equity finance and the section 35 funding sourced for the film project in question had been cancelled and would not be made available.
