Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Last Thursday was an absolute nightmare for the whole of the country.I picked Billie up from crèche and, like every other mother in the country, I hugged her that little bit tighter. That could have been anybody's child. What happened last week could have happened in any part of the country. It was very unfortunate. The events of last Thursday night were driven by hatred, discrimination and xenophobia. It was just pure hatred. I know exactly what it is like. My community knows exactly what it is like to be the subject of hatred within Irish society. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, now needs to consider hate crime legislation. We need to pass hate crime legislation as soon as possible to be able to protect people in our country.

Is the Leader aware that last week the people in this House, Muslim women and people of colour and Black people were very nervous about going home? The Shelbourne Hotel made residence for its foreign workers. That should not be the case in Ireland in 2023. Keeping minority groups safe in this country is one of the best actions the Minister can do. With the amendments we are putting forward, all Members can support a hate crime Bill collectively.

Last night at 9.30 p.m. there was a documentary on RTÉ 1 about a young boy. I spoke about Patrick in this House last year. He was 12 years of age when he took his own life. He was a loved child and his family absolutely idolised him. They had taken him to the park that day. There were no signs of mental health issues with Patrick. Unfortunately, he took his own life due to bullying. Traveller women are six times more likely to die by suicide than women in the general population. Traveller men are seven times more likely to die by suicide than men in the general population. I am absolutely blue in the face from raising this issue through Commencement matters and at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community, trying my best with my colleagues in this House to hold the Government to account. There was a promise of Government that they would have a national Traveller strategy on mental health. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, really needs to talk to our community and not tell us that we were lucky we got recognition, and not tell us how lucky we are and how far we have come. We need action now. We do not want more children in our community dying by suicide, and no more older people dying by suicide in our community. There is so much addiction and poverty. We can actually be part of making Travellers' lives easier within Irish society. I am calling for a debate and for the Minister of State to come in to the House so it is not left just for me, the Traveller Senator, to do, and it is left for all of us to do because Patrick could have been anybody's child. As I said last night on that documentary, if Traveller children are given the opportunity to be successful, they would be successful. Unfortunately, those opportunities are not there yet.