Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree with that, and going back to what Dr. McDonagh said earlier when she spoke about homophobia and sexism as well, and has always said this over the years, that there is no race to the end. Racism is racism, no matter what community you are from. Again, people do not understand that you can be and are a member of the Traveller community who is in a wheelchair and has other needs as well. That is how closed-minded society is. For me, even before the local elections, there was divide and conquer, and these topics around immigration in Ireland. I went canvassing with loads of independent councillors, and not once - I am not joking - did the issue of migration come up on the doors. I walked a lot, and did it in Donegal, and all parts of Dublin from Firhouse to Swords. Not once did any person bring up the issue of migration on the doors.

I think what this Government and previous Governments have been brilliant at doing are issues around racism and discrimination, and communities at each other, as we can see now. As my colleague, Senator Ruane, would often say, it is people with nothing fighting for nothing. My point is that we know one of the biggest issues is racism towards our community, and it is that racism around, "Sure they cannot live here". We have seen it from politicians who went on to be Ministers, and there is one politician who has not long been appointed a Minister of State and what her leaflet says is pure racism towards the Traveller community. It is unfortunate that we live in an Ireland where if you are only being racist towards Travellers, it is more acceptable. It is banter in the pub. I am gone to a point in my life as a professional where I recognise that while the core is racism and discrimination from the State and from all angles, for me it is like, "Okay, I will talk about racism in the few minutes after we get the action on this and then we can go back", while it all interlinks. You could spend meeting after meeting, and even today, it has opened up for me to ask if there is a way this committee could link with the European Parliament in the work it is doing to make life better for Travellers. Is that our next step as a committee? It is like pulling teeth here in trying to get action on a better life for the Traveller community.

With regard to this session, I will be driving home to Donegal thinking about the conversation this morning about the work that is being done at European level that we like to turn a blind eye to here. However, it is genuinely that lack of accountability. I could go into the Seanad every single day and talk about the racism, hatred and discrimination that we experience on a daily basis and how acceptable it is in this country. I am blue in the face from doing that. We are trying to chip away at the hate crime legislation and get that across the line. It is legislation that will also work for our community when it comes to incitement to hatred, such as the burning of houses that are allocated to Travellers, etc. I think it is important, and for me, as Deputy Buckley has said, if something is not working we need to fix it. I no longer go into committees and say that the problem is racism because I would be there talking for 20 minutes about something they already know is happening. I choose to use my committee time not to speak about racism but to ask what else can be done next to provide accommodation. However, it is the root problem and we have to deal with it. We cannot be naive and say that we will put racism to the side because it is the overall problem in services, housing and accommodation.

I think this morning's meeting has been really powerful for me, and is leaving me with a lot of thought. I am sure it is the same for Deputy Ó Cuív and other Deputies and Senators who will be watching.