Ms Maria Joyce:

On the ethnic identifier, it is important that it is operated under a human rights framework. It is not about targeting people or creating situations. It is about getting the data needed to ensure the responses that are put in place, or that those that are needed are monitored. The human rights framework is very important.

Senator Warfield asked about decriminalisation. Ireland has an issue with substance abuse for some sectors of the community, especially where there are fewer opportunities and outcomes for education and employment, as young Travellers have in Ireland. We know that more than 80% of Travellers are unemployed, and we also know there is huge inequality in attainment and access to participation in and outcomes from education. Where those opportunities are not available then these will be issues for young people.

Protecting the people is central to this, where they are impacted upon by those abuses, not anyone else within that.