Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The recommendation by the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality that Traveller ethnicity be recognised was issued in its report of 17 April. The conclusion of the report states that it was inappropriate for the State to reject the ethnicity of Travellers. That statement says a great deal.

What immediate steps does the Irish Traveller Movement recommend the State take to address the issue of Traveller ethnicity under its Article 27 obligations? Some weeks ago, a committee of the British-Irish Parliamentary Association met representatives of Travellers, including members of Pavee Point, and it plans to meet Travellers in the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The committee will draft a report in the autumn. I ask Ms Quilligan to indicate what can be done under Article 27 obligations. What does the Irish Traveller Movement recommend the State should do to address the issue?