Ms Brigid Quirke:

Yes, we got the funding to do it in 2007, but it took from the 2002 strategy to 2007 to get the study done. People did engage and there was great buy-in to the study because, as Ms Collins said, we explained that once we had the data, we would get a clear strategy and deal with Traveller health issues. When we got it, it was put on a shelf. Now the push is for the action plan. The Department was committed to producing a Traveller health strategy but it has not done so. It is wrong to suggest that it is waiting for the action plan. The only reason we are getting an action plan is the national Traveller and Roma inclusion strategy, which is a European initiative, not a national initiative. Europe told Ireland it must produce a strategy for Travellers and Roma, and within that we got the action plan. There is still an issue with commitment.