Irish Equity has called on TDs to support a motion which seeks to link the provision of tax breaks to film and TV production companies with an obligation that they respect artists’ rights.
Irish Equity President, Gerry O’Brien, said: “Irish Equity is committed to ensuring that Irish performers and their intellectual property rights are valued equally with their international counterparts when engaged on productions filmed in Ireland. These domestic and international productions receive considerable State support through generous tax breaks. Our performers have a right under legislation, which is often denied, to share in the revenue streams generated by the commercial exploitation of these productions internationally.”
SIPTU Sector Organiser, Robbie Purfield, said: “We welcome the Taxes Consolidation (Rights of Performers and Film Workers) (Amendment) Bill which is being proposed by Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh. It calls for production companies to adopt some important protections for Irish actors, including compliance with the EU Copyright Directive, in order to receive tax breaks associated with film and TV productions in Ireland. We are calling on all parties to support the Bill to ensure that rights for performers are protected.”
Irish Equity represents professionals in the live performance and theatre sector in the Republic of Ireland. It is an affiliate of SIPTU.
Pictured: Irish Equity President Gerry O’Brien with members of the Executive at Leinster House today supporting Aengus O Snodaigh‘s, (Sinn Fein’s spokesperson on the Arts) private members bill supporting equal terms and conditions for Irish performers in the audio visual industry