Northern Ireland Office

Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Paul Murphy MP, today announced that the Irish Language Broadcasting Fund is to be administered by the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission (NIFTC).

Mr Murphy said: "In April I announced that £12 million was being made available over a three-year period to provide support to Irish language film and television production. Significant progress has since been made in resolving some of the very complex issues about the administration of the Fund and I am now pleased to announce that it will be administered by the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission."

The Secretary of State explained that the Fund stemmed from the Government's commitments in the Good Friday Agreement and in the Joint Declaration made by the British and Irish Governments. He added: "I am confident that the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission has the necessary expertise, professionalism and skills to manage such a fund and I am therefore delighted that they have accepted this challenge."

Mr Murphy also announced the beginning of a public consultation exercise being conducted by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure which includes an equality impact assessment. The consultation period will end on 01st October 2004

Notes to Editors

Broadcast Fund

Government support for Irish language film and television production in Northern Ireland stems directly from commitments in the Good Friday Agreement 1998 and the Joint Declaration between the UK and Irish governments in April 2003. It is expected that the Fund will be operational by December 2004.

Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission (NIFTC)

The NIFTC was established in April 1997 as a company limited by guarantee. It is delegated by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland to distribute National Lottery funds to film projects and provides a strategic focus for all the resources available to the film sector in Northern Ireland for both cultural and industrial purposes.

The mission of NIFTC, whose honorary president is Kenneth Branagh, is to accelerate the development of a dynamic and sustainable film and television industry in Northern Ireland by integrating industrial, educational and cultural policies and actions.

Colin Anderson, chairman of NIFTC, founded Anderson Advertising in 1982 and has built the company into one of Northern Ireland's leading marketing services groups which also operates in the Republic of Ireland. Colin was awarded the OBE for his services to industry in 1997. He is Visiting Professor at the University of Ulster's School of Psychology and Communication and past President of the NI Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Colin is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the Institute of Directors and the Royal Television Society.

Public Consultation

Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 requires an assessment of the equality impact and a period of public consultation on new policies. Anyone wishing to provide views can access the consultation document on the Department's website www.dcalni.gov.uk. It can also be obtained in hard copy by contacting:

Jill Caldwell, DCAL, Interpoint, 20-24, York Street, Belfast BT15 1AQ