Mr. Bernard Joyce:

The Irish Traveller Movement welcomes the opportunity to present to the committee on matters related to the electoral reform Bill. We refer to our submission to the forum on a family-friendly and inclusive parliament and related recommendations, which may have meaning here too. We also note the current Government-led interim report of the anti-racism committee, and any actions and recommendations arising there.

The establishment of an electoral commission and provisions connected to that can make way for broader engagement of Travellers, minority and under-represented groups in a political democracy, and ensure those are upheld in a non-discriminatory way, a principle objective of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

Travellers encounter many obstacles to participating fully in political democracy, from low voting, lack of political awareness and apathy to the political system, which as a duty bearer, has under-served Traveller needs and dented trust, in many settings. This is coupled with a lack of sanctions for running candidates and elected representatives who have, over many years, articulated anti-Traveller sentiments in electioneering matters and often in housing decisions, with some of them openly canvassing against Travellers as a strategy to be elected or, in some cases, re-elected.

The structural obstacles are a problem too, where there is no universal right. Right now, there are approximately 45,000 to 57,000 Irish Travellers in the Republic, 60% are aged under 25 and just 3% are aged over 65. Given our population size and age, our political system of proportional representation statistically disadvantages us when competing with non-Travellers in elections. A more successful way for some Travellers was through the local town councils. Unfortunately, these have been abolished now. Other obstacles to achieve presence in constituency settings through the normal pathways to politics, such as through social and civil engagement and sporting and cultural arenas, are also a restrictive barrier. Even after those barriers are overcome to get onto a ballot paper, Travellers encounter deeply ingrained prejudices at a level, including for nominations by political parties and groups. Notwithstanding that, in the 2019 local and European elections, five Traveller candidates ran. This was the most significant number to date. There is hope that we will see more candidates in future. However, the reality is competing in an environment of anti-Traveller sentiment is challenging and limits success. However, there is much that we can do.

Improving Traveller visibility, where we are participants in national and local political structures in mainstream politics would support integration and inclusion. Traveller-led articulation would not only promote but could be seen as an approach that would also mainstream our identity beyond the stereotypes. Encouraging greater Traveller voter participation requires proof that the system will deliver for our community and that we are participating in discussions and decisions of national importance. That means that when national policy decisions are made, we are part of that discussion of how democracy happens. For example, the function of the citizens’ assembly is to inform legislation and public policy. Members of the assembly are currently selected at random from the electoral register. Travellers are not always on the register and were therefore unlikely to be included in assemblies so far. It is difficult to see that this is true to their remit “in reflecting Irish society”.

We must also be included in national Government planning strategies, which are not comprehensively inclusive in design. Travellers are not factored into Ireland’s broader plan across cultural, social, community and environmental strategies. That is a matter of fact. Consultation on those matters assumes that Travellers are included in broader public cohorts and across all national engagement strategies. The Seanad and presidential election systems, by their design, disadvantage Travellers, and other under-represented and disadvantaged groups, and should be broadened at their entry level. The likelihood of having a Traveller as President is remote, worsened by obstacles in the first stage, where a candidate must be endorsed by either 20 Oireachtas Members or four local authorities. Up to now, the Oireachtas has not created a minority panel system.

In that context, but not exclusive to it, there is an immediate opportunity within the Seanad, a proposal which has been supported by some political groups.

Finally, representation in political decision-making has been recognised by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, CERD, in 2005, 2011, 2016 and finally in 2019, saying that:

the State party take effective measures, including special measures, to improve the representation of ethnic minority groups in political and public life, including by implementing the goal of ensuring that 1 per cent of the civil service workforce are from ethnic minorities.

Travellers should now be included in that. It also said recommended that "the State party collect and provide updated statistics on the ethnic composition of its population based on self-identification", including in political life. We would be very happy to address any of these matters further and can reply by submission.