Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In our previous session with representatives of the Irish Traveller Movement and the National Traveller Women's Forum there had been the expectation that following the publication of this committee's report that there would be a statement of recognition within a relatively short period. I do not doubt the resolve of those who made that statement and undertook to see the matter delivered. The passage of time since then has most certainly affected the confidence of the Traveller community and wider society who are eager and anxious for this measure to be delivered. We hope that, whatever has contributed to the dilatoriness since, our having addressed this issue and the publication of our report hopefully before the end of next month will reinforce that earlier demand and help us get across the line.

In Ms Logan's opening remarks she referred to the fact that we will be coming under greater international scrutiny in respect of the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination. She indicated that the written response required from this State in 2017 which is just around the corner is to be followed by an oral engagement with the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, CERD, in 2018. Could she elaborate on this in the wider context of addressing racial discrimination? The State's failure, if it is the case at that time, to formally recognise Traveller ethnicity would have to be a component part of the written submission and the acknowledgement of this State's failures.