Eileen Flynn (Independent)
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Training judges is a brilliant recommendation. In the past two years, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, has appointed more women judges. It is important to know that members of the Traveller community can go on and be judges too. It is also important to create that opportunity for members of our community.

We could go from here until Christmas talking about experiences. For example, a young man came to me four years ago and said that he had to go to court. I remember he was nervous because he was a member of the Traveller community. I will never forget what he said to me. I told him he would be fine because it was his first offence, and it was simple. No crime is simple. I am not saying that anyone should commit a crime – far from it. The majority of women in the Dóchas Centre are members of the Traveller community. The majority of prisoners in Castlerea Prison and Mountjoy Prison are members of the Traveller community. This young man said to me, “Do you know something, Eileen? I am guilty before I even walk into that courtroom.” It makes me emotional because I live, see and breathe it every day. That got me thinking about young men from the Traveller community. Getting into trouble or whatever can be seen in all walks of life. It may be because of economic disadvantages and trauma that some members of the Traveller community have to go through. Racism and discrimination are traumatic in themselves. All of these underlying issues have to be dealt with. We, as a committee, will absolutely take the recommendation of training judges on board and try to have it acted upon at national level. It is well needed.

No member of the Traveller community should have to feel that level of intimidation and feel patronised walking into a place. My mother used to talk about walking into places with your head up high. However, many members of the Traveller community and even myself - and I am a public representative - still get nervous going into a pub and into public places.

It is appalling that we do not have wraparound supports for Travellers. I again refer to the Dóchas Centre, where I have done some work. I am sure the witnesses know Anne Costello. It is in every country. Looking at Australia and New Zealand, it is the indigenous people who, for some reason or other, are overrepresented within prison systems. I am not taking away from the points relating to access to the system, but it is a discussion we need to keep having. We need to have the witnesses in and have actions and meaningful changes for the Traveller community when it comes to the justice system.

Deputy Ó Cuív has done some work with Travellers in prison. I am sure he would have probably more to say because of work he did, as Minister but also as a Deputy, whereas I was a community development worker.

I am passionate because I know settled people do not see this. Like judges, solicitors should also receive training. In many cases, society thinks it is part of Traveller culture to engage in domestic violence, commit crimes and be refused from places. However, these are all norms that society has never dealt with and where it has failed, and will continue to fail, members of the Traveller community. Imagine the impact it has on a person to feel guilty just walking a courtroom.

If I were going out in Donegal, at 34 years of age and as a public representative, I would walk into a place with my head down wondering whether I was going to be refused. Imagine how hard it is for ordinary Travellers in not being able to try to enjoy life like everybody else. That is the rejection we are subject to within society, and it is not being dealt with.

Does Ms Lucy have anything more to add?