Ms Anastasia Crickley:

It would provide a very useful framework for the third Irish report if the recommendations made in the first and second reports could be acknowledged in the third report as having been completed. The process is that the report should be put together in consultation with the groups affected by the issues. This is part of the process for every UN treaty. This means that all of the groups that are here and others are actively consulted about the report. My understanding is that the report is in preparation. It is usual practice that once a draft is ready there is a consultation process. The views are taken on board. It is my hope that the State will support Irish civil society in doing this, as is the case in other countries. This has not been the practice to the extent that it used to be since times of austerity. My hope is that Irish civil society and in particular Irish Traveller organisations would be able to attend in Geneva when the Irish State is presenting its report. This is a normal process in most democratic societies. In terms of the process, the report is produced and circulated in advance. The committee appoints a rapporteur, which will not be me and I also will not be able to contribute during the examination. The country is then examined, usually represented by a Minister or a Minister of State. The NGOs and civil society and the Irish Human Rights Commission are given an opportunity to make some input and then the whole committee, which is an independent group comprised of 18 people elected from around the world, draws concluding observations and recommendations. This will happen in early 2018, if the report is submitted next year. As I said earlier, the report is already late but if it is submitted next year with the information that Traveller ethnicity has been acknowledged I think it would be a positive day for addressing racism towards Travellers in Irish society.