Mr. Bernard Joyce:

Deputy Ellis asked a few questions. I will try to unpack some of that. Ms Kelly will come in on the last question. For clarity, the first question was whether anything was in place for Travellers taking up employment. My understanding is that Travellers are protected under the equality legislation and one of those grounds. In essence, it should be that Travellers who access employment have a right to seek remedy under the equality legislation if they deem or feel that they have been discriminated against. We have seen cases being taken. However, given the legislation and the practice, it can be very difficult and certainly unwieldy. A lot of cases would not go to the Workplace Relations Commission.

I suppose there are incentives for employers. There are corporate companies that may have a moral duty and responsibility, but they certainly do not have legislative requirements to employ Travellers. Some examples were given in terms of the public sector. There are target requirements in the public sector, particularly in terms of women and gender quotas and disability. There is a focus on those areas. We would like to see it broadened out. Given the high level of unemployment, exclusion and racism that Travellers experience, the public sector could take a more proactive leadership role. For example, South Dublin County Council is one of the biggest employers in south Dublin. If it were to take a targeted approach, how could it look to employ Travellers within the local authority? It is similar in Dublin City Council and across the country. It could be a really good opportunity to take leadership within those areas and across other areas. In case anybody is watching from south Dublin, they did have a programme for Travellers to take up employment in south Dublin. We welcome that. That was quite a significant amount of time. It is to ensure something like that becomes national policy and is embedded and that internships and employment opportunities are created within the public sector. At the moment, there is some movement but not enough on that. Ms Kelly might come in on the question about grants and employers.