Colette Kelleher (Independent)
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I welcome members and viewers who may be watching proceedings on Oireachtas TV to this meeting of the committee. The purpose of today's meeting is to continue our deliberations on the topic of employment and how it impacts the Traveller community. This will be our second session on this subject, and we will examine the disproportionate levels of unemployment among Travellers. I welcome those in the Public Gallery as well. We have been looking at many different aspects of this issue, and we want to paint a picture of the situation based on Traveller voices, perspectives, and lived experiences. We are also seeking to generate recommendations on how it could be different. We started our public work in September and since then we have met at least 50 people and received as many submissions and more. We have a huge body of work, which we are anxious to ensure is captured in our report. Time is of the essence for us. Last week, Mr. T.J. Hogan from Mincéirs Whiden told us that five and six year old Traveller children in primary school are not asked what they want to be when they are older. The expectations are lowered even before they begin. We were also told about the 80% rate of unemployment among Travellers and the prejudice they face in accessing employment. Good, capable people must hide their identities and give fake addresses just to get past an employer's front door and get a job. We will hear more about that today. I will not repeat the statistics because the witnesses' presentations include plenty of them, as well as real life lived experiences.

I welcome Mr. Bernard Joyce from the Irish Traveller Movement back again. He has put enormous effort into this process. We realise that participating in these committee meetings puts Traveller organisations under pressure, and our report will reflect and reward that participation. I acknowledge that because much work goes into these submissions. I met Mr. Hugh Friel, men's health and development worker in the Donegal Travellers Project, in Mayo earlier this year. I also welcome Mr. Kyle Quill, youth worker from Donegal Travellers Project; Ms Joanna Corcoran from the Galway Traveller Movement; Ms Doreen Carpenter and Mr. Oein De Bhairduin, who I know rather well, from Clondalkin Travellers Development Group; and Ms Brigid Quilligan and Mr. Michael McCarthy from Kerry Travellers Health Community Development Project. As well as the issues we are here to discuss, we will also hear many good examples of what could be possible if we were active about tackling unemployment among Travellers.

I draw the attention of witnesses to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Members are also reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Mobile phones interfere with the recording system so they should either be turned off or put into flight mode.

Any submissions or opening statements made to the joint committee will be published on the committee's website after this meeting. After the presentations there will be questions from members of the joint committee. I call on Mr. Bernard Joyce to make an opening statement.