Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputy Lawlor. He is in the Dáil at the moment but he will be back to chair the meeting at around 12.50 p.m. or 1 p.m.

As agreed before we went into public session, we would just like to take a few minutes to remember the people who were killed in the Carrickmines tragedy, which was ten years ago tomorrow. It is very important as a committee that we remember Thomas and Sylvia Connors, baby Jim, Christy, little Mary, Jimmy Lynch, Willie Lynch and Tara Gilbert, Kelsey and Jodie, and their families. It is hard to believe that it was ten years ago almost to the day when we woke up to the tragedy of the Carrickmines fire and how it shook Ireland at the time. It is very unfortunate that it needs to be said that Carrickmines was not just a tragedy; it was the result of years of failure and years of living in failed accommodation. It was rundown accommodation in an area that was not fit for purpose for Travellers to be living in. Today, 1,700 Traveller families are still living in unsafe conditions. We need to say that. We need to be honest as a committee that for many decades Travellers has been failed through different systems, including the education system and through housing and employment. As a committee we hope to make the lives of those in the Traveller community better. We are never going to do that overnight but it is brilliant to have this committee as a long-standing committee. I know that every single Traveller in the country is thinking of the people who lost their lives in Carrickmines. I will open up the floor to the members. If any member wishes to come in to make a comment please feel free to do so.