Eileen Flynn (Independent)
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I welcome everyone to the 30th meeting of the Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community. We have received apologies from Senators O'Hara and O'Reilly.

I remind members they must be physically present in the Houses to take part in a public meeting of the committee. I will not allow any member to take part in the meeting if they are not in Leinster House.

I welcome Professor Michael O'Flaherty from the Council of Europe. He will speak to the committee on some issues at European and Irish level that impact the Traveller and Roma communities. I suggest that we publish the submission document on our website. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I will now hand over to Professor O'Flaherty. I thank him very much for taking an interest in the Traveller and Roma communities in this country. He has been in the role for only six months but in that time he has really shown his commitment to our communities. He has met NGOs and other politicians and we are very grateful to have a person who is very passionate about equality for all communities.