Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will say something before we call on our next speaker, Ms Gabi Muntean, from Pavee Point. She is a Roma worker in Pavee Point and a Roma woman in her own right. When we were discussing this event with the national organisations, Thomas McCann rightly said, that we fought for years for platforms and to get in with other minority groups. As a minority group, which at a European level has little or no justice or rights, we are sharing our platform today with the Roma community because together, with other minority groups, we are stronger. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I hope that the Traveller committee will work more closely going forward with the Roma community and that we will have better quality outcomes with and for the Roma community.

Today, Ms Muntean is breaking down barriers by being the first Roma woman to speak in the Houses of the Oireachtas. What incredible change we are all part of today. Only together, as the "others" in society, can we bring about a better quality of change. You cannot have or fight for equality for one community if you do not want it for all communities. Ms Muntean is very welcome. The floor is hers.