Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 8 October 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee On Key Issues Affecting The Traveller Community

Traveller Mental Health: Discussion (Resumed)

Ms Maria Carnicer:

I will begin answering the question by sharing a story with which I am often faced. Often when people hear my accent, they know I am not from here. They begin to ask me questions about where I work and why I have come to Ireland. When I tell them that I work at Exchange House Ireland with the National Travellers Service, the number one question I get asked is why. There is a disdain. Why would I want to work there? I agree with Mr. McCann's position that there is a separation. What is really needed are allies, people like committee members to stand up to add their voice loudly while standing beside Traveller advocates and leadership. We must not let them carry that burden alone. For far too long, the Traveller community has been burdened.