Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Mr. Bernard Joyce, Ms Maria Joyce and Ms Jacinta Brack for their presentation. They have presented raw facts which are truly shocking and show how the core pillars of the State in education, health care and housing have really undermined and forgotten a community and group in Irish society. As my colleague Deputy O'Callaghan has said, when one looks at infant mortality rates, educational outcomes and pretty much every metric we use to look at any group or pocket of any community, the statistics are off the Richter scale. To me this is shocking in the year we are in. It is something that we have to positively address. The report has made its recommendations and I know members have asked questions already but I would like to know about the international context. From doing some background work I know that the Sami people received recognition in the 1970s and there also has been recognition in the North, Scotland and Wales. As part of the type of process referred to by Mr. Joyce, where possible changes to some of the core political and policy issues could actually result in positive changes in outcomes for the Traveller community, can the witnesses outline or give some perspective on the comparative experience and what changes have occurred in the metrics of the communities in other places and how recognition has helped elsewhere?