We are at a loss to understand the recent comments Minister Patrick O’Donovan has made regarding the proposed Content Levy.

In his comments he mentions specifically the cost of living crisis. As the representative organisation for a sector that suffers huge financial instability, we are keenly aware of the impact that the cost of living crisis has on ordinary Irish households. But the Content Levy was never intended to be a tax on consumers. The levy is a tax on the profits of the streamers, not a tax on the taxpayer. Specifically, it is a levy targeted at the streamers who benefit from Irish subscribers, without investing back into the creative and cultural development of our industry.

It’s no secret that Irish writers have stories to tell – we have all seen the headlines about the Green Wave which our industry is currently enjoying. Irish writers are recognised for their talent worldwide, but if they cannot access the funding necessary to develop worldclass ideas, then our industry will never be able to compete at a global level.

At the Writers’ Guild, we recently conducted a salary survey of our members. Over 60% of our members earned less than €20,000 in 2024 from their writing. Without the ring fenced development funding which the content levy will provide, there will be no new Colm Baireads, Sally Rooneys, Sheena Lamberts or Peter McKennas.

We urge the Minister to meet with us in order to properly discuss the levy and the implications that not introducing it will have on the economic livelihoods of our members.

Read our letter to Minister Patrick O’Donovan here.

Read coverage in the Irish Times here