Dr. Rosaleen McDonagh:

I do not mean to be glib but as Deputy Ó Cuív said, we have had hundreds of reports over the past 20 years but the lack of implementation has been an issue. The reality is that, whether we like it or not, racism is at the root of this problem. It is like a virus that is never-ending and there is no new medicine to stop it. It is doing damage to settled communities and to us.

I would also say to the Deputy that there is one-to-one racism that you learn to live with every day. You just put up with it. You get on with your life and hope it only happens once a day. There is then the structural and institutional racism that lies within our local authorities, which view Travellers in the most disgusting way.

On a broader level, because I may not get in here again, I would like to take the opportunity to say that Travellers with disabilities are not covered under the law. Under European law, intersectionality is not covered. Therefore, if something happens around racism, people will say, "It is only because you are a woman", or, "It is only because you are disabled." There is no legislative mechanism for people like me, and there are a lot of us. I cannot say that something happens as the result of racism, ableism and sexism. I am told to pick one. Neither I or anyone else can define their life, who they are and what they are.