"I wish to congratulate Jessie Buckley on her deserved Oscar nomination for her role in Hamnet. Jessie is a supremely talented actor, who has demonstrated her incredible range in films such as The Lost Daughter, Wild Rose and Women Talking and smash hit television shows like Chernobyl and Fargo. I wish Jessie the very best of luck, and every possible success, at the Academy Awards ceremony on 15 March. The whole of Killarney, Kerry and Ireland will be cheering her on.

“I would also like to extend my warmest congratulations to Coleraine's Maggie O'Farrell, author of Hamnet, who has been nominated alongside director Chloe Zhao for Best Adapted Screenplay. And, of course, I will also be cheering on several other Irish nominees on the night of 15 March. Wild Atlantic Pictures' movie Blue Moon, which was made almost entirely in Ireland, was supported by Section 481 tax relief, Bugonia, produced by Irish company Element Pictures, received nominations; as has animated short Retirement Plan, directed by John Kelly and starring the voice of Domhnall Gleeson as Ray.

“And it is little surprise that the talents of Richard Baneham are recognised again for his VFX work on Avatar: Fire and Ash. Ireland’s ongoing international success in film, television and animation is remarkable. It reflects Ireland’s investment in our screen industries. As Minister I will make sure that that investment is continued. I wish each of them the best, and hope for a very successful night for the Irish film industry in March.”