On 4 June last a Film Co-Production Agreement between Ireland and Australia was initialled in Dublin by my predecessor and the Ambassador of Australia. This procedure signalled the satisfactory conclusion of negotiations between the two countries on the facilitation of film co-productions. The final steps to formal ratification of the agreement are now being taken by the Australian and Irish authorities. I anticipate that the agreement will be ratified by early next year.
In the meantime, administrative arrangements were put in place earlier this year between Ireland and Australia to facilitate an AustralianIrish co-production, in respect of which the Irish element of the filming took place during the summer in Achill, County Mayo.