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Film Industry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 June 2018

Thursday, 21 June 2018

Ceisteanna (12)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

12. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she was consulted in relation to the sale of a studio (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27114/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí ó Béal (6 píosaí cainte)

Ardmore Studios is a very strategic facility. It was sold recently and I understand the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation was involved. Was the Minister consulted about the sale and were concerns expressed about the vulnerability of Ardmore's future as a studio?

The sale of the studio referred to by the Deputy is first and foremost a matter for my colleague the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Heather Humphreys. I can confirm, however, that her Department has kept my Department informed of the progress and ultimate acquisition of the facility in question. In March this year I issued a press release welcoming the acquisition of the studios by an Irish company. Ireland is an attractive location for film production and the facility referred to by the Deputy will continue to operate as a studio.

I want to ensure that Ireland continues as an attractive location for film production and also becomes a global leader in this area. On Monday last, 18 June, the name of the Irish Film Board was changed to Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland.

Fís Éireann or Screen Ireland is the national development agency for the Irish film, television drama and animation industry.  Its statutory remit is to assist and encourage the making of film in the State and the development of the industry in Ireland. In 2018, €18 million was allocated to Screen Ireland, an increase of €1.55 million from the previous year. Screen Ireland also supports the Irish screen industries at major international markets and festivals, promotes inward investment and the use of Ireland as a location for international production, and provides support for companies filming in Ireland. Screen Ireland liaises with IDA Ireland and Tourism Ireland to maximise opportunities for the promotion of Ireland as a location for film production. Information on its funding scheme is available on its website.

The Government also supports the film industry through the film tax credit scheme, as provided for in section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997.  The twin approach of direct funding and tax expenditure measures maximises the benefits of the Government's support to the audiovisual industry. In addition, pillar four of the Creative Ireland programme focuses on Ireland's potential to be a global leader in film production, television drama, documentary, children's storytelling and animation. 

Just to satisfy my idle curiosity, I ask the Minister to explain why the Irish and English versions of the name are totally different. Screen Ireland is translated as "Fís Éireann" but the word "fís" means "vision", while the Irish for the word "screen" is "scáileán". Why does this anomaly with regard to the name exist? Which word more truly reflects the nature of this body? Is it "Fís" in the Irish title or "Screen" in the English title?

I totally agree with Deputy Ó Cuív's comment on the translation. When I saw it I wondered about it too because the word "fís" has a very particular meaning in Irish relating to a vision. That is how the word is used. For example, it features as a title in much academic discussion and political commentary. It is an odd translation.

I thank the Deputies for their comments. On the issue of use of the word "fís", we need to have a vision for film, television and all of the new platforms. A digital revolution is taking place around the world and the word "fís" encompasses it more than the word "scáileán" would. The former is also easier to remember than the direct Irish translation of screen.

On the issue of Ardmore Studios to which the Deputy's original question refers, Enterprise Ireland requires the consent of its parent Department to dispose of State assets. In this context, the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation maintained contact with my Department during the sale process to keep us briefed on developments, while also noting that the Department had no formal role in the process. The Department did not have a view as to who should own the studio but only that the studio would continue as a key asset underpinning the development of the Irish film industry. Ultimately, the decision to dispose of the Enterprise Ireland shareholding was a matter for the board of Enterprise Ireland and was subject to the approval of the relevant Minister. The process concluded when the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Humphreys, wrote to me on 6 March 2018 to inform me of her decision to approve the proposed disposal by Enterprise Ireland of its minority shareholding on the terms recommended by its board.

The Ardmore site is currently zoned for film industry use only. This protection is due to run for at least another five years under the Bray municipal district local area plan. The site cannot be used for non-film industry development without the agreement of Wicklow County Council to alter the current zoning restriction. It is important that Ireland remains at the forefront of the audiovisual sector and this is one of the main aims of Global 2025, which the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and I launched recently.

Given that we are talking about the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, I presume that Fís Éireann was the original name which was translated into English and not the other way around. It baffles me as to why, having called it Fís Éireann, the Department did not call it Vision Ireland but my puzzlement will continue.

Given the price of residential land in the Bray area, is the Minister concerned that there is a significant possibility that the Ardmore site might be rezoned as residential land? In such circumstances, it would be impossible to ensure the site would be retained for film making in the context of profitability. Does the Minister agree that there is an absolute need to have ready-made production facilities in this country if we are to continue to attract major film and screen projects?

Deputy Josepha Madigan: I have no control over what a local authority decides to do into the future but the site cannot be used at the moment for non-film industry development without the agreement of Wicklow County Council to alter the current zoning restriction.

The Olsberg report was published on foot of an economic analysis of the Irish audiovisual industry. It found that the industry generated almost 17,000 jobs in 2016 and added almost €1.1 billion to the economy, which could increase to €1.46 billion. The headline figures in the report relate to radio production as well as film, television, animation, commercial advertising and video game production.

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