Mr. Bernard Joyce:

I, too, am very honoured to speak today on behalf of the Irish Traveller Movement on the matter of Traveller ethnicity recognition. I thank the Chairman and the committee for their invitation to us to come here today. This is our second time in two years to appear before a committee of the Houses.

Ms Maria Joyce outlined how the issue of our ethnicity is undisputed and that we belong to an ethnic group. I was born a Traveller. This is my identity; it belongs to me. I cannot become an non-Traveller. I belong to a community who share a history that is owned by us, culture that belongs to us and values and beliefs that we share together as a community. We are a unique people on this island. We share a historical experience dating back hundreds of years and, unfortunately, we experience discrimination, marginalisation and exclusion on this island, which has createdhuge gaps in our social, health and life outcomes.

Ethnicity is not the same as race, nationality or place of birth. Recognising Traveller ethnicity will not make us less Irish. It will, however, acknowledge our dual identity of being both Irish and Traveller, similar to Irish Americans and African Americans. Having my identity recognised, defined and included would enhance my pride of place in Irish society my sense of being part of rather than separate from it.

What we seek from the Irish State is an acknowledgment that our view of ourselves as a community is valid, and should be recognised as such. Fundamentally, it is about respect and inclusion of our identity that has been denied since the foundation of the Irish State. Now is the time to do right by us. Now is the time to make this decision.

One particular advantage to ethnicity recognition is the opportunity to enhance community esteem and address internalised oppression. Internalised oppression, which supports the notion that the majority population is right and somehow superior to us, leads to poor self-image, low self-esteem, a lack of pride in one’s culture and identity, stress, depression and even suicide among our community. The low expectations that we both have of ourselves and of our community sadly is not unique to us. Minority groups across the globe share its impact on the well-being of their communities. However, despite the difficulties facing our community, the crisis relating to our mental and social well-being and the vulnerabilities threatening our young people, as a community, we are a resilient, proud and honourable people. Recognising our minority ethnic status would mean that we would be automatically included, as Ms Maria Joyce said, in future anti-racism and integration policies and initiatives.

Our desire is to be valued for the people we are and to be elevated by the Irish State, bringing about a positive step on the journey of re-righting the ill-effects of past policies. The 1963 Report of the Commission on Itinerancy on Travellers further marginalised our community. Recognising Traveller ethnicity would also create the opportunity for further collaboration and an improvement in trust between the State and Travellers. I must state that recognition, however, is not a gift to be bestowed by the State or by others, our ethnicity without question is our unique identity. Our recognition is part of a process of healing and reconciliation between Travellers and their relationship with the State. The historical context of our position and of our right as individuals and as a group to self-identify as being Traveller and the recognising of our ethnicity has both symbolic and practical benefits.

I thank the committee for this opportunity. It has been two years since we were last here. In those two years, we have seen the Minister responsible previously make an announcement that ethnicity would be recognised within six months. A year has passed and we are still here. Our community has been very much let down. I hope this is part of a process where there will be an opportunity to progress Traveller ethnicity and Travellers' rightful place within our society.