Richard Boyd Barrett warns €1bn film relief leaves workers insecure
Richard Boyd Barrett addressed the film industry tax relief, saying in excess of a billion euro has been paid through the scheme over the last 10-15 years and arguing it leaves long-serving film workers insecure. He welcomed the minister's engagement and some improvements, but urged action to create an industry of scale, a more secure pool of employees, trainees and protections to support arts and culture.
Scale of relief and investment
He said well in excess of a billion euro has gone into the film industry through this relief over the last 10-15 years, calling that "a lot of money" and noting the scheme operates project to project.
Job insecurity for long-serving crew
He warned that people who have worked in the industry for 10, 15, 20 or 25 years do not know if, when the next failed production financed with that relief happens, they will have any chance of a job - because the recipient of the relief is not always the employer and employers can change without giving reason.
Government engagement and improvements
He thanked the minister and his team for their genuine interest, engagement and for some significant improvements made following debates, and explicitly welcomed that engagement while pressing for further change.
Call for a secure, scaled industry
He urged moving the issue forward to create an industry of scale with a more secure pool of employees, skills development and trainees, arguing such changes would help the entire film industry and help arts and culture to develop and expand.
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I want to thank the Minister and his team for their genuine interest and engagement and indeed for some of the very significant improvements they've made on foot of the debates and discussions that have gone on on this on this front and listen there's no doubt it's project to project however having said that we are talking about in excess well in excess actually of a billion euro has gone into the film industry through this relief over the last 10-15 years that's a lot of money by any by any definition that's a lot of money and I mean what is an absolute fact is the people who've worked this is indisputable the people who've worked in that industry for 10 15 20 25 years do not know if when the next failed production financed with that relief happens if they have any chance of a job in fact there's nothing nothing to prevent the recipient of the recipient of the recipient of the recipient of the recipient of that relief or one of their agents saying sorry you've worked here for the last 20 years you're just not coming in this one they don't have to give any reason none because they're not the employer it's a different employer so that's a real problem and that's that's current and it means people you know won't have an income coming into this Christmas as a result of it and that's what we're talking about people who have credits and awards indeed to their names are award-winning films and part award-winning films and I just don't think that can persist and I welcome it you know in my short time available I just want to repeat my welcome for the engagement to the government but I hope we can move this forward so that we create an industry of scale an industry with a more secure a more secure pool of employees with skills and trainees and so on that actually I think will help all of the industry and indeed help arts and culture in this country develop and expand
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