Mr. Thomas McCann:

Mr. Martin Collins referred to local politicians and Travellers. Mincéirs Whiden carried out a political education campaign with Travellers to do exactly that because we do not have any political representation. When Bills, which predominantly impact on Travellers, are going through, we have no say in them whatsoever. The anti-trespass legislation, which does not affect settled people, is used against Travellers. We did not have a say in that. We do not have any say in the legislation which impacts primarily on our community.

There is a need for a political voice from the Traveller community. As Ms Ronnie Fay said, we hoped there would be an opportunity for representation with the restructuring of the Seanad. There are other representative groups there from very privileged communities. I do not see why the Traveller community cannot be represented in the Seanad, particularly as it is an excluded community.

The denial of Traveller ethnicity does not acknowledge the racism that Travellers face. Acknowledging Traveller ethnicity will say that what has happened to the Traveller community for decades is racist. We need to look at that. There is a lack of acknowledgement by the State that what has happened and is happening to Travellers is racist. People can and have campaigned on anti-Traveller tickets and stopped Traveller accommodation in areas. Some councillors are on local authority Traveller accommodation committees not to promote Traveller accommodation, but to ensure it does not go into their area. That has to stop.

We need to start to build a new relationship based on equality, trust and recognition of cultural identity. Then we can build some of the programmes, like Ms Fay said. It might be an agency that will drive and make change. There might be a question of resources too. The Equality Authority report on ethnicity stated there might be a rearranging or re-prioritisation of resources. One must take into consideration the cuts implemented. The starting point is recognition of Traveller ethnicity. Then we can start to build a different Ireland based on equality and respect for cultural differences.