The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands has established a think-tank to formulate a strategic plan for the future of the Irish film industry. Launching the initiative in Dublin yesterday, she singled out the Section 35 tax-incentive scheme, which expires next year, as "the most immediate is sue" to be explored by the group.
"I will be asking the think-tank to furnish me with a report on this particular issue in September," Ms de Valera said. "Without prejudice to the conclusions of the think-tank, I believe this measure, perhaps with certain modifications and refinements, should continue to play an important role."
Chartered accountant Mr Ossie Kilkenny will chair the cross-industry group. The other members are Mr Kevin Bonner, former secretary general of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Mr Dermot Burke, principal officer, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands; Ms Jane Gogan, producer and commissioning editor of TV3; Mr Michael Hannigan, director, Cork Film Festival; Mr James Hickey, lawyer, Matheson Ormsby Prentice; Ms Roisin Hogan, director, Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology; Mr Pat Keenan, secretary, film and entertainment branch, SIPTU; Mr Arthur Lappin, film producer; Mr Louis Marcus, chairman, Irish Film Board; Mr Liam Miller, organisation and development managing director, RTE; Ms Rita Meehan, assistant principal, Department of Finance; Mr Kevin Moriarty, managing director, Ardmore Studios; Mr Padraic O Ciardha, development and information editor, Teilifis na Gaeilge; Ms Martha O'Neill, chairwoman, Film Institute of Ireland, and Mr Morgan O'Sullivan, film producer.
The strategic review group will be supported by experts nominated by a range of Irish film-related bodies, and by international experts, who will include French producer Mr Philippe Cracssonne, and British producer Mr Nik Powell, who is chairman of the European Film Academy.
The establishment of the think-tank was a priority in the Government's action programme for the millennium, Ms de Valera said. Noting the "dramatic developments" in the film industry over the past five years, she said 30 film projects had been certified in the last year under Section 35 and a further seven applications were with her Department.