Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not dispute that there is a crisis. This committee was established in response to a dreadfully serious issue, which is how politics is supposed to work. I do not in any way, shape or form intend to diminish the seriousness and challenges of this issue. I want to be as proactive as I can with this committee, and anybody else, who will try to reach out and achieve a solution.

As for what data my Department relies on, I agree with the Chairman that 2010 is a long time ago, in terms of our reliance on the findings of the Traveller health study 2010. A lot of my own information has been gleaned from my engagement with representative groups like Pavee Point. I have also met individual Travellers who have told me the issues that affect them in stark terms. I do not want to mention names but people will know who I am talking about. Such engagement has motivated me and led me to use certain terminology a while ago. There are things that we can do, things that we should do and obviously we can always do more. I have spoken to Pavee Point about exploring ways to make the signposted phoneline that exists more culturally sensitive and aware of the issues that affect Travellers.

There might be some way we could feed into that telephone line vis-à-vistraining in the National Ambulance Service to ensure that people have assistance and guidance on recognising issues that are specific to Travellers. Under the safeTALK training that has been rolled out, and John Meehan can speak further on this, MORE than 2,000 people have been trained in the last 12 months. Every member of An Garda Síochána in the Garda Training College has been trained in that. Perhaps we could examine a dedicated programme to be rolled out among Travellers. It is training specifically on recognising suicidal ideation and equipping people with the correct and appropriate language to use.

Certainly, there are things we can do and I look forward to this committee informing some of that for me, the staff in the Department and the HSE.