Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 26 October 2016
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality
Recognition of Traveller Ethnicity: Discussion
9:00 am
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I thank Ms Logan. It will prove to be the case that members will recognise and accept that the recognition of Traveller ethnicity is a new beginning in the relationships between indigenous communities on the island. There has been, at times, a fraught relationship between some in the settled community and the Traveller community. The matter has to be addressed.
What role can education play, in terms of the work of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, in impacting on political consciousness? I would see it as a new starting point. There is much to be done in confronting the forces that imbue discriminatory thoughts and ideas that perpetuate the most unacceptable disposition of, sadly, so many, as has been demonstrated over the years in our society towards our Traveller brothers and sisters.
Education is central in addressing those faultlines in our societal make-up. From the point of view of the Commission, does Ms Logan, in her engagement with the Government and Department, insist on the development of programmes within all levels of education that would properly contribute to combatting those faultlines?