David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes. I apologise for not being able to attend the meeting. It clashed with another meeting, but I was watching and trying to listen on the monitor. I will read the transcripts later. I got the gist of what took place. I congratulate everybody on what they have been doing. This is a huge challenge and a great deal of work must be done. I am familiar with Ms Enright and Dr. McGinnity and the work they have been doing. We are reported out of it at this stage. I chaired a committee for four years and we have many reports, but we need action now. We need hands-on activity on the ground to make this happen.

We need to find out, first, why Travellers are not getting employment. I heard somebody say earlier that much of it is related to their self-esteem. I visited many Traveller communities over the last number of years and one thing that struck me in one place was all the young people hanging around, and this was when we had full employment before the pandemic. They were fabulous young people just hanging around with nothing to do and all day to do it. I wondered what was going on and why those people were not being engaged. Education has a big part to play, as somebody mentioned earlier. It is about getting through school, getting out the other side and getting some type of recognition. Self-esteem and self-belief are very important. They are part of it.

I am aware of the work Ms Enright is doing. The Irish Association for Social Inclusion Opportunities, IASIO, and other organisations are doing fantastic hands-on work on the ground, and hand holding in some instances. Employers and businesses need to be hand held as well and brought along. It is a huge amount of work. I heard what Ms Comerford said about diversity, which is massively important, and challenging people at the top table.

Chairman, you and the committee are doing great work in this area, but we must keep at it. I will read the transcript and I sincerely apologise for not being able to attend all of the meeting. It is due to the way matters broke today.