Ms Emily Logan:

After the Carrickmines tragedy we met officials in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council who have great power to make decisions that affect Travellers. We know that accommodation is one of the determinants of health, so it is fundamental. From that meeting it was clear that there was a lack of understanding of culturally appropriate decision making. That is not to suggest that the people held prejudicial views. My observation was that these people had no training whatsoever and had not been given any guidance on how to make a culturally appropriate decision. These officials were responding to a public demand to not accommodate the bereaved families in Carrickmines.

The Deputy mentioned institutional racism. I think it pervades our society, sadly. Some politicians have shown great leadership, but we need people to have that courage and take that step. Given that we are gradually deleting things off that list of what were perceived obstacles to recognition of Traveller ethnicity, what is left? What is left is what the Deputy described as institutional thinking and political leadership. In the spirit of the legislation to which we operate, which uses the word "encourage", which may sound soft, our job is to try to encourage political leadership.

We are seeing it across Europe, which is a concern. More migrants will be coming to Ireland. If we cannot get it right for our own indigenous people, what does that say for our future? This is a first step to Ireland growing up and facing up to its history. While it is uncomfortable, it requires both institutional and political leadership.