The Renewed Programme for Government, bashed out between Fianna Fáil and the Green Party last week, seems to offer some good news for the Irish Film Board, which was also staunchly defended this week by actor Brendan Gleeson in a submission to an Oireachtas committee on the arts.

One of the programme’s five commitments to the arts states that: “We will ensure that the supports provided by the Film Board are maintained in order to realise the potential of Irish film-making.” Earlier this year, the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes dared to suggest that the Board be abolished.