Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD, has today (Tuesday) announced her intention to put legislation in place to change the name of the Irish Film Board to Screen Ireland this year.
The change of name reflects the mass move to digital, as well as the board's broader remit of the agency as the promoter of the Irish film, TV and animation sector.
Minister Humphreys, who had previously spoken to Bill O'Herlihy about the move, said:
“The Irish Film Board is our premier agency for promoting and supporting the audio visual sector. Its work extends far beyond the traditional realm of ‘film’ and encompasses the domestic and international TV sector, as well as our growing animation sector.
“The Irish audio visual sector has been going from strength to strength in recent years, and I believe there is huge capacity for growth. I want the agency tasked with expanding the sector further to have a name that easily communicates its responsibilities.
“This change is fully supported by the Irish Film Board, and indeed the former Chairman, Bill O’Herlihy, and I discussed the proposed name change just the week before he died. Bill firmly believed that the name change would help the agency to better position itself and compete internationally, and I am very pleased to be in a position to honour his wish.
“The Irish audio-visual sector is a dynamic and changing industry, with significant growth potential. We have an opportunity to capitalise on this potential, and to create a clear pathway for growth for our film, TV and animation industries.”