Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 January 2019
63. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide a progress report on the film industry stakeholder forum; the stakeholders the appointed chairperson of the forum has engaged with in advance of convening the forum since their appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1772/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Report by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on the Development and Working Conditions in the Irish Film Industry was published in July 2018.
One of the Report's recommendations is for Screen Ireland to constitute a Film Forum, with an independent Chair, in order to allow all stakeholders within the sector to meet and work together to develop mutually beneficial solutions for the industry. I have met with Screen Ireland on arrangements to hold an Industry Forum that can focus on issues around employment and dignity at work.
Stakeholder disputes have emerged which have impeded progress. Screen Ireland has been endeavouring to organise the Forum and had drawn up a list of all stakeholders to invite to the Forum. These include representatives of workers in the industry which include
- The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU)
- SIPTU
- Irish Film Workers Association (IFWA)
- GMBh Trade Union
- Screen Guilds of Ireland
The emergence of disputes between stakeholders have, however, impeded progress on the Forum. I understand that following the transmission of an RTÉ Prime Time programme on the film industry, ICTU and SIPTU stated that they would not attend a Forum to which the IFWA is invited, and that the Screen Guilds of Ireland gave a similar response. Based on the ICTU position, Screen Producers Ireland also indicated that it would not attend.
My Department continues to work with the Audiovisual High Level Steering Group to address issues in the audiovisual industry, and to support the industry and to the people who work in it.
Meanwhile, the Deputy will be aware that the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018 was enacted in December and will introduce important new protections - particularly for those workers in sectors where employment terms are perceived to be becoming more precarious.
