Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

When talking about children's access to parents, the delegates put the child at the heart of the conversation, and rightly so, but my question is about married people from mixed communities. I have been speaking to a woman whose partner has reported her three times to Tusla. She is from the Traveller community. She feels absolutely powerless because her husband is a member of the settled community. Are there any measures in place – special measures, if you want – for people from ethnic minorities, especially when it comes to Travellers in the court system? We have systems in place but even I, as a Senator, would not know the run of them. I might know people in the family courts whom I could contact and who could offer support in providing general information. There is an awful lot of fear over access, especially among women in my community and Roma women. It is important that we have these conversations. Although Senator Ruane was talking about vulnerable groups, what happens does not happen among them alone; it can happen to millionaires. Again, it is a matter of the child. Have the delegates any answers on the provision of support to people from the Traveller community? Cultural barriers can also shape a child. Separation does not happen in our community. Even if the mother of a child were abusive, the child would have to stay with her. In some cases, but not all cases, it would not be regarded as the man's role to look after the child. I just popped into the meeting to find out the position on this. I am interested in hearing people's opinions.