AS THIS newspaper is being printed, a surprise party is raging at the Irish Film Centre to honour the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Michael D. Higgins. As many as 300 members of the film community have converged on the Temple Bar Centre to thank Michael D. for his work for the film sector. At the time of going to press, the revellers were to include Chairman of the Film Board Louis Marcus, and exChairman Lelia Doolan, Screen Commission board member Mary Leonard, Chief Executive of Temple Bar Properties Laura Magaghy, Arts Council Director Patricia Quinn and Arts Council Chairman, Ciaran Benson.

Michael D.'s obvious achievements in the film area are the Section 35 incentives for film, the reestablishment of the Film Board, the establishment of Teilifis na Gaeilge and just before the election, the Film Commission, to market Ireland as a film location. It is to his credit that none of the parties arts manifestoes suggested reversing any of these new measures - they just added bits and pieces. Let's hope it stays that way.