Join CPOI Reads for an online lunch time event:  Dr Maria O’Brien, Lecturer in Taxation at University of Galway in conversation with David Hesmondhalgh, Professor of Media, Music and Culture at the University of Leeds,  on her study of tax credits for cultural production in Ireland.

EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE VIA ZOOM. Please register to receive link.

This conversation covers the issues in Maria’s recently published book on tax policies for cultural and creative industries(CCIS). The book Tax Credits for Cultural Production in Europe: the Irish Example (Palgrave MacMillan 2025) offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between the state and audiovisual industries, particularly in Ireland.  The talk will examine the provision of tax credits for films and digital games, highlighting the importance of cultural value as a key aspect for the justification of state support. It also explores the complex interplay between culture and economics in cultural and creative industries discourse, applying a law and political economy approach to investigate the Irish tax credit system and explores the impact of EU membership on framing these tax credits as cultural incentives.

By examining the political economy of state support for audiovisual industries, this research enhances our understanding of national government’s motivations and the intricate relationship between cultural and economic objectives. It emphasises the symbiotic nature of audiovisual goods, utilising the emerging field of law and political economy to uncover the forces that shape cultural policies, and providing valuable insights into the development of cultural policies in a neoliberalised environment.

This event is chaired by Professor David Hesmondhalgh Professor of Media, Music and Culture in the School of Media and Communication at the University of Leeds (England).

Dr Maria O’Brien is a Lecturer in Taxation at the University of Galway, with a joint role across the School of Law and the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics. A qualified lawyer, Maria combines legal expertise with academic research to explore how tax policy can actively support the cultural and creative industries. Her work focuses on incentives for film, audiovisual media, and digital games, examining how fiscal tools can encourage growth, investment, and innovation in Ireland and across Europe. Maria has published widely on the intersection of taxation and cultural policy, has contributed to shaping policy through her work with industry bodies, including film and games organizations. Beyond research, she engages directly with the creative sector, helping to bridge the gap between law, policy, and practice.

Professor David Hesmondhalgh is Professor of Media, Music and Culture in the School of Media and Communication at the University of Leeds (England). His authored books include The Cultural Industries (5^th edition, 2026), Why Music Matters (2013) and Creative Labour (2010, with Sarah Baker), and his edited collections include Music Streaming Around the World (2025) and Media and Society (6^th edition, 2019, with James Curran). From 2021-26, he holds a European Research Council Advanced Research Grant on Music Culture in the Age of Streaming.