Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I must first say that I stand in solidarity with the Minister for Justice, Deputy Helen McEntee and with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman. The hassle these two representatives had to go through in the last number of weeks has been absolutely appalling. I just wanted to put this on record.

Yesterday the National Museum of Ireland launched the Mincéir archives. One of my good friends and colleagues, whom many Senators in the House have known for years, Oein DeBhairduin, is leading out in recognising Traveller history and in bringing Traveller culture to the front of Irish society. When we had Travellers here for a discussion in the Seanad on 18 April, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, said that we were the heart of Irish culture. I genuinely believe that. We in the Traveller community have never give up our souls.

There is a schoolbook, Let's Discover! Sixth Class History. Nowhere in this book does it speak about Traveller history or does it even name Travellers. Yesterday sixth class students from Shellybanks Educate Together National School signed the book for me and asked if I would deliver a message for them and for the museum: that this is what a history book should look like. It should include us, we who have always existed in this country. Traveller history should be included for primary schools and secondary schools so that Traveller children feel valued, and most importantly that it will give all our children the opportunity to learn about Traveller culture and the Traveller way of life.

I bring this issue forward today to also say we are still waiting for the Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018, on which former Senator Colette Kelleher worked really hard. The can is getting kicked down the road. That Bill is still on Committee Stage. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education is working really hard to try to get the Minister to work with us and pass the Bill but it is nowhere in sight. Can we please work at having Traveller history in primary schoolbooks?