Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Likewise, Deputy. There are young people here who are part of political parties. It is critically important we create spaces and that political parties create those spaces. We know of two members who are present, one of whom, Mr. James Stokes, is a member of Sinn Féin, while Mr. Ian McDonagh is a member of Fianna Fáil. It is so important and there are some Travellers who are members of the Social Democrats, Labour and Fine Gael. For me, Independents work with our community but we are not just to be "Travellers" or "the Traveller politician". We are "Travellers, who are". I am a Senator who happens to be from the Traveller community and that is always to the heart of it. I live and breathe the community I am from, which is Labre Park, and I do not pretend I represent 40,000 Travellers. I would not represent Travellers if they were on the news. I remember getting telephone calls from the media during Covid saying there was a wedding. I said I did not hear about that and as I was not at the wedding, asked what they wanted me to do about it. Again, there is this thing where if my family is no good, then I am not much better. It is so important to stop the good Traveller and let us be part of political parties and get the jobs in the local shops. Travellers want to be a part of Irish society and deserve to be. Deputy Catherine Murphy is next.