Ireland
Britain granted £12m for Irish-language films
Wednesday, 8 June 2005 22:20Britain has received approval from the European Commission to give grants worth £12 million pounds to promote Irish-language film and television in Northern Ireland.
'The fund fosters broadcasts for Irish language speakers and I am happy to approve state aid that promotes cultural and regional identity', EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said in a statement.
The fund is part of British commitment in the Good Friday Agreement.
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At least 60% of the spoken word in a film or television programme must be in Irish to qualify for aid.
The grant was scrutinised by the EU executive to ensure it was not anti-competitive.
