Mr. Patrick Reilly:

I would like to come in on the question that Deputy Gino Kenny asked. I would like could come back to the first point he made, which was that this was already a crisis stage for Travellers. He referenced Dr. Mike Ryan talking about a tsunami of mental health problems coming the line. We could see this once the virus entered Ireland last year. Mental health was already at a crisis stage. Suicide and funerals were so common, we did not wonder about them anymore. It was that common.

Ms Fay spoke specifically about what happened to Travellers in the lockdown. Basic human needs, such as running water and access to safe and adequate electricity, were provided through the work of the Travellers' organisations. As Ms McDonnell said, Traveller parents had to homeschool, shop, and cook for their children. Travellers have had bad experiences in schools themselves. There is a low level of literacy. That was added stress for Travellers. They had to worry about parents and loved ones. The lockdowns of 5 km and 10 km meant they could not visit or check in on family. I live on a site with my older grandmother. She depends on family members to get her medication, as well as to read the instructions for her medication, so that she knows to take it at the proper time.

Although there was isolation, we were already in a lockdown before lockdown ever happened. There is racism and discrimination online, as seen by anyone who watched Sky Sports recently, especially after the match where England players experienced racism and discrimination because of their skin colour. Travellers experience racism because of their ethnicity. We have seen that on social media. Our young population was exposed to that. The community development approach that Travellers took within the organisations was crucial. Health care workers on the ground need to have the trust of Travellers. I see Senator Eileen Flynn nodding. It was important to get proper, right, accessible information. There was so much misinformation flying around that the virus was not real and the vaccines are going to do this and that. That was scaremongering.

It is important to have a relationship with Traveller organisations. I know I said it in the recommendation. They should be nothing for Travellers, without Travellers. We are here as members of Traveller organisations. We know Travellers best. Who knows Travellers better than ourselves? Ms McDonnell spoke about being a Traveller mother. I am a Traveller man. What works from one community might not work for another. People can take what I am going to say in any way that they want, but as a Traveller man I am fed up with having the same conversation over and over. We are losing young Traveller men and women. We are here, but it is as if our voice is not heard. I know Deputy Gino Kenny was there in 2018. There were good presentations, submissions and actions yet, here we are further along, still having the same conversations. It is hurtful.