Brian O'Shea
Ceist:12 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Finance the Government's policy on tax incentives for the film industry for the period after April 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3029/99]
Written Answers. - Film Industry Development.
Brian O'Shea
Ceist:21 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Finance the Government's policy on tax incentives for the film industry when incentives such as section 481 relief run out in April 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2808/99]
Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:44 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by the film industry regarding the continuation of section 481 tax relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5377/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 21 and 44 together.
In the 1999 Finance Bill published on 11 February 1999, I have provided for a continuation of this relief for a further year to 5 April 2000. While I am aware that concern has been expressed by the film sector regarding the proposed one year extension to the relief in question, speculation that this extension puts the future continuation of the relief into question is not justified. This extension will enable the Government to fully consider the contents of a number of reports on the film sector that are to be published shortly. Rolling the reliefs forward does not mean the end of film relief. It is a valuable incentive to film making here and is recognised as such by the Government. We want the relief to continue to work to secure the Government's aims for the industry and the publication of the special reports on the industry by the Government and their subsequent detailed consideration is the best way to address the appropriate policies for State support in this area.