Writers, directors add weight to Section 481 debate
Ireland's most prominent and successful film writers and directors have added their voices for the retention of Section 481.
Neil Jordan, Roddy Doyle and Conor McPherson have joined forces with Screen Producers Ireland (SPI) to highlight their concern in relation to the expiration of the tax incentive for the film industry at the end of 2004.
Section 481 - which a SPI economic report shows provides a three to one return to the Exchequer on its investment - has been fundamental in the growth of Ireland's film industry - over the past 10 years.
It also claims that the current level of employment in the industry could rise to 11,000 and a contribution of some €500m in expenditure by 2010, with continued Government support.
They claim that if Section 481 was abolished it will become the only EU state without such an incentive.
Screen Producers Ireland spokesperson Alan Moloney, said:" It will stunt the growth of the industry and fundamentally limit the potential development and success of young up and coming Irish writers and directors if the Irish tax incentive is not extended.
Chair of the Irish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild (IPSG), Sean Moffatt, said:"At a recent meeting in Toronto of the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds writers and their representatives from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and the US passed a resolution to 'urge the appropriate authorities in Ireland not to remove the tax incentives, as their removal would destroy the prospect for continuing success of Irish film and television production for the future'.
The SPI which represents over 200 writers and film directors in Ireland has stated that Section 481 contributed to 180 feature films and TV drama's being produced in Ireland over the last ten years.
