David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for making this very historic day for the Traveller community in Ireland happen. I also acknowledge the huge support that the Tánaiste has given to this event and decision, the Ministers who were unanimous in their support and everybody who spoke during the debate. There was unanimous and enthusiastic support for this decision from everybody who spoke. There were no dissenting voices. People have raised other issues, which I will come to, but this is historic. In my 20 years here, I have rarely seen such agreement, enthusiastic and positivity - if only we could go on like that.

We have had long discussions to tease out exactly what is involved in the recognition of Irish Travellers as an ethnic group of the Irish nation. I stress the term "recognition"; nothing is being granted because it is already there.

These discussions most recently culminated in the first ever presentation to the Government at the Cabinet committee on social policy by a delegation from Traveller organisations. At that meeting, Traveller representatives presented the case for their recognition as an ethnic group in a most impressive, dignified and convincing fashion. I understand this was the first time that Traveller or, indeed, any NGO representatives made a presentation to the Government directly across the table in that way, which was historic.

I thank the four representatives selected by the Traveller representative NGOs to meet the Taoiseach and Ministers, namely, Martin Collins from Pavee Point, Brigid Quilligan from the Irish Traveller Movement, Maria Joyce from the National Traveller Women's Forum and Michael McDonagh from the Meath Travellers Workshop. I should also give a special mention to Thomas McCann and Kathleen Sherlock who stood on call valiantly as alternatives in case one of the other four could not make it.

Not long after my appointment as Minister of State, one of the first roles I had was visiting Traveller Pride and I was blown away by what I saw. Deputy Micheál Martin mentioned T. J. Hogan. I met Mikey Kelly, who is the national under-11 handball champion and a lovely young man. Ian McDonagh, who is in the Visitors Gallery, recently represented Ireland in Finland and excelled in the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. I recently met Ian in his school, Coláiste Mhuirlinne, in Galway. He is a credit to his school and parents. Many other young Travellers are doing the same kind of work, for which they should be recognised.

I also recognise the contribution of my predecessor, Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, in advancing the issue during his tenure as Minister of State in the Department. At the time, I was Chairman of the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality and we presented the report on the recognition of Traveller ethnicity in April 2014. The rapporteur was Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn who is present and did sterling work. The current committee, under the chairmanship of Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, presented a report in recent weeks.

I also acknowledge his contribution and that of the current members of the committee, which was extremely useful and welcome. This is an issue on which all parties are united, which is important.

The key argument for what we have done today is that recognition of the distinct heritage, culture and identity of Travellers and their special place in Irish society will be hugely and symbolically important to their pride and self-esteem and overcoming the legacy of economic marginalisation, discrimination and low self-esteem, with which the community struggles. This is not to ignore the real problems that it faces, but such a symbolic gesture will create a new platform for positive engagement by the Traveller community and the Government in together seeking sustainable solutions based on respect and an honest dialogue on these issues and challenges. To reiterate the point the Taoiseach made, this is a hugely important and symbolic gesture that is very important to Travellers, but it has no legislative implications, creates no new rights and has no implications for public expenditure. However, it is still hugely important. I am working to complete a new Traveller and Roma inclusion strategy and we are examining issues relating to health, employment, education and accommodation which colleagues have raised. I personally want to see real improvements in these areas. In that context, the recent ESRI social portrait of Travellers in Ireland which my Department commissioned and I launched recently is stark in showing just how poor health, life expectancy and education outcomes are for Travellers. Traveller NGOs will continue to lobby for improved interventions on these issues and I am determined to bring about real improvements in that regard.

Today is the culmination of a long-standing campaign by Travellers to have their identity, culture and unique position valued by their formal recognition as a distinct ethnic group. As the Taoiseach stressed, this is without prejudice to their being part of and self-identifying as part of the Irish nation. It is an historic day, but it is also a new beginning and the start of the work we need to do as a society to address the real and stark issues that face the Traveller community in areas such as accommodation, health, employment and education. I will present my plans to address these issues in the new inclusion strategy which we will, in consultation with other Departments and Traveller representatives, finalise shortly. The Tánaiste and I will present the strategy very soon. I look forward to working with Travellers as part of this ambitious work.

I congratulate and thank everyone for bringing about this historic occasion.

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