Some of Ireland's leading film makers came together today to lobby for the retention of the industry's tax incentive scheme.
The Minster for Finance, Mr McCreevy, last year said he would scrap the Section 481 provision by the end of 2004 but there have been dire warnings that jobs and investment will be lost if he goes ahead with the plan in December's Budget.
Renowned film directors Neil Jordan, Conor McPherson and Jim Sheridan were among those today to Screen Producers Ireland's (SPI) call for the provision to be retained.
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Ms Trish McAdam, of the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland, told reporters today that scrapping the incentive will lead to a decline in the number of Irish films being made.
"Irish artists will be silenced and the Irish economy will lose an industry that is creative, culturally powerful, region-friendly, non-polluting, technically advanced and thus highly sought-after," she said.
SPI spokesperson Mr Alan Moloney called for the scheme to be extended by a further ten years and warned that ending it would mean the Irish industry's "recognition on the world stage" would be "lost overnight".
"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," he added.
The Oireachtas Finance Committee will consider whether the benefits outweigh the cost of the provision on November 5th but at today's press conference today a recent SPI report which says Section 481 is cost-effective was highlighted.
The report predicts that the current level of employment in the industry - at around 4,500 - would rise to 11,000 with continued Government support.
Fine Gael Arts spokesman, Mr Jimmy Deenihan, has said around 80 per cent of jobs would be lost if the provision was scrapped.
The Minister for Arts Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, has conceded the system is open to abuse but has met with Mr McCreevy to lobby for its retention.
Others artists supporting the sheme today were: author and screenwriter, Roddy Doyle, writer and director Barry Devlin; directors Gerry Stembridge, Paddy Breathnach, Aisling Walsh and Liz Gill.