Film Industry

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 October 2023

Thursday, 19 October 2023

Ceisteanna (61)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

61. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media what action, if any, she intends to take to ensure recognition of service of film crew in the Irish film industry and to address the vulnerability of film crew to black-balling given the ongoing use of successive fixed-term contracts for the employment of crew by film producers who are in receipt of public funding for film production. [45793/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media

In applying for film tax relief under Section 481, the producer company and the qualifying company must sign an undertaking to comply with all aspects of employment law.  In addition, each applicant and recipient must have in place policies and procedures on grievances, discipline and dignity at work.

Employment law including that covering the use of fixed-term contracts is a matter for my Cabinet colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment as are matters relating to "black-balling".  The Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court are the mechanism put in place by the Government to investigate and deal with alleged breaches of employment legislation.