Ms Maria Joyce:

Of course. They need to step up to the plate in the context of the wider role of local authorities, and the engagement of Travellers and Traveller women across that and the additional supports that are needed. When we look at engagement in politics, a person's economic situation also has a key role as to whether there will be success. That is a significant barrier for any woman coming from a lower socioeconomic background. With a more than 80% rate of unemployment in this country and significant issues of poverty, that is going to have a significant impact on Traveller women. Traveller women are engaging and have engaged, however.

The Senator mentioned the LTACCs. They have continued to engage in those spaces for more than 20 years. As a woman who sat in one of those spaces, I can tell the Senator that they are not easy spaces in which to sit in terms of sexist and anti-Traveller remarks. Elected officials sit at that table in a consultative space to advance Traveller accommodation and then when they are out in the media sphere, they make really anti-Traveller comments on accommodation and housing. That is not helpful.

There is, therefore, a huge amount local authorities need to do around breaking down some of those barriers in direct supports and engagement, but certainly also in looking at the policies and spaces in which Travellers are engaging. They must make sure they are anti-racist and anti-sexist spaces, and that significant training is provided to all staff on cultural competency, Traveller cultural awareness and equality and human rights in terms of how they engage with Travellers. This should be done at an individual level, but also in the context of how they are engaging in those committee spaces and political spaces.