Ms Jacinta Brack:

Ironically, being before an Oireachtas committee, ethnicity recognition, technically speaking, is not a political exercise as such. The previous committee, which did good work, outlined that it would be better if there was no legislative change for recognition but rather it would be something the Taoiseach of the day would acknowledge in the House. That ties into the idea that Travellers de factoare an ethnic group and therefore that is not a gift to be bestowed but something that the State should acknowledge.

However, in its absence, and as Deputy Wallace said, there is an underlying problem as to the reason that has not happened until now. Unfortunately, and I am sure most Traveller leaders would agree, that has directly accrued from State policy around Travellers, and possibly a hostility in that relationship. If we reflect on that, that takes account of all of the social indicators Deputy O'Callaghan pointed out with regard to infant mortality and all those other issues. However, the State has to reflect on itself and it is possible that in acknowledging Traveller ethnicity it will rewrite the wrongs of the past.

In terms of other jurisdictions, a state apology was made in Australia. In Taiwan, a group was given an apology by the state but was recognised as having a distinct 2% ethnic group within its majority population. That has happened in other places, including for the Sami people in Sweden. It is not unprecedented in the European context but it is long overdue here. I hope that makes the position more clear.