Dr. Niall Muldoon:

As the Vice Chairman noted, the issue is very stark. We did not set ourselves up as experts in Traveller accommodation and legislation. We have learned about it through three years of investigation and through experts coming together to create that report in 2019. One recommendation related to the suspension of Part 8. While I can see difficulties with doing that, something radical has to happen. We have to change the legislation in some way or other. On the An Bord Pleanála suggestion, I could not comment on whether that is a better option. From our point of view, it is about creating movement because the paralysis of the system is allowed through Part 8.

People are crowded. If a site starts off with ten bays, it can end up with 20 caravans. The key is to get people onto another site or into social housing. If a plan is made to build social housing or to generate a new site and that is blocked, it may end up that the 20 caravans becomes 30, and there is a paralysis of the system. Something needs to be shaken up and that means being radical and suspending or changing something. I am not going to say clearly what the political route should be but there is an option in front of the Oireachtas with a really well thought-out report, and the decision has to be made quickly. We need to start making it happen.

When I launched the report, I likened the issue to the tenements. In Dublin, one can go on a tour of a tenement, which shows that living in those conditions in the early 1900s was almost better than some of the sites the committee has discussed. We eradicated that from our general population 50 years ago and we would not allow it to happen now, yet every politician in the Dáil is standing over that if they allow their local government politicians to continue to use Part 8 in that way and to allow the influence to come forward. Those children deserve the right to live in a safe, secure and comfortable home in the way in which they want to live. They have a right to play, health and education, and those rights need to start from proper accommodation.

As for whether I have passed the baton to the Oireachtas, I believe that is what should happen. I hope all we need to do is talk to the committee, and members can make the difference in pushing forward with their colleagues and as a committee with its report. I hate to think I would end up coming back with a special report, but if we did that, it would definitely be a matter of handing the matter back to the Oireachtas to take control and do something about it.

I hope it will not get to that stage. I would love to think that in 12 months, we will have a report indicating I am satisfied with the progress made and we can see real differences for the children on that site. I will keep my fingers crossed in that regard and we will work as hard as we can with the local authority to ensure that happens. I hope the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Taoiseach will, as was indicated, put forward opportunities for those local authorities to make a difference.