Eileen Flynn (Independent)
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I thank Dr. Muldoon. Ms Ward's comments about shame and the shame of living in poverty really struck me. That is a burden in itself. That is such a weight on any child's shoulders. Back in 1998, when I fell on a halting site, I spent years going in and out of hospital with infections because of that one fall. That brings me back to that young person who was ashamed of going to school. Even today, we have such little hope for our young people. I remember saying to Mary Robinson when she was in, that I was once in a refuge with my mother at six years of age. I was born and reared in poverty and I still ended up here, but that is not the case for every single child. People say, if you can see it you can be it.

Many Traveller children and adults would love to be in here as a politician or to be a doctor or a nurse, and it is the same for people from other minority groups. Unfortunately, however, we do not get those opportunities.

This is still very much alive in today's world. Attending this meeting and listening to some of the points that have been made has given me so much food for thought and made me want to keep pushing and chipping away. I think about my children and how I can provide a better life for them by breaking the circle of poverty. It is remarkable to be here, but most important, while I believe in hope, it is about political will. The implementation needs to come from the top down and give a hand up to poor communities and children who have less. Children do not want handouts and neither do mothers and fathers. They want sustainability and that is what we are missing.

I thank the witnesses.