Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020
496. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the fact that film production companies have refused to attend the WRC in an industrial relations matter taken by more than 30 employees (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9603/20]
View answerThe WRC is an independent statutory office under the aegis of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. The WRC is mandated to secure compliance with Ireland’s employment, equality and industrial relations legislation. As part of its statutory functions, the WRC adjudicates on cases under employment rights, industrial relations and equal status legislation.
Engagement with the WRC’s conciliation service is entirely voluntary and a private matter for the parties involved. The WRC does not comment on any matters before its conciliation service.
Given the statutory independence of the WRC in the exercise of its quasi-judicial functions you will appreciate that I as Minister cannot intervene when the WRC exercises its statutory functions.
Screen Ireland is the national development agency for Irish filmmaking and the Irish film, television and animation industry. The agency supports writers, directors and production companies across these sectors by providing investment loans for the development, production and distribution of film, television and animation projects. Screen Ireland is funded by the Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht and any funding applications by a producer company through section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 would be a policy matter for that department.
