Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

This is an historic occasion. I have never heard of a time when so many people have shown up for a debate. I have tried to speak with the Tánaiste. We cannot cite any precedent. Travellers have come to Leinster House from far and wide, but I submitted a list of names approximately 36 hours ago of people in the Irish Traveller Movement and other associations, for example, the Blanchardstown Traveller Development Group, which had fought for 30 years for this day. It seems unfair that this could not have been planned better. I raised the matter earlier. Now that people are outside, can we take a break to facilitate them and make an exception instead of turning away those who have already been marginalised in society? I appeal to the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Superintendent to bear with us and try to facilitate that.

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