Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for asking this question. It is a sensitive but very important issue on which the House needs to continue to provide leadership. People will remember the former Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, making a statement in March 2017 in announcing the recognition of Travellers as an ethnic group in Ireland. Since that statement, the Government has published the national Traveller and Roma inclusion strategy 2017 to 2021. The strategy contains 149 actions grouped under ten themes, including cultural identity, education, health, anti-discrimination and equality. A celebration event to mark the first anniversary of the formal recognition of Traveller ethnicity by the Taoiseach in Dáil Éireann took place in the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham in March this year. The event was targeted primarily at members of the Traveller community and the relevant NGOs, State agencies and Departments that work on Traveller issues. However, it was fully inclusive and open to any member of the public who wished to attend.

We are looking to build on our achievements in changing the conversation between the Traveller community and the settled community, one that did not have enough trust and, in some cases, still does not. If we are honest, there is an underlying prejudice, driven by fear, among many in the settled community. The only way we can address it over time is through responsible politics that recognises that, as a minority ethnic group in Ireland, Travellers have been marginalised for many years. As a result, their educational, housing and healthcare needs have not been met, resulting in a build-up of mistrust and tension between the two communities. There are lots of anecdotal examples. Settled communities are fearful of integration and facilitating housing solutions. As a result, local authorities have been unable to deliver the supports needed. However, we cannot allow that fear and prejudice to dominate how the issue is dealt through policy development and investment - quite the opposite, in fact. This Government wants to be more generous, reach out more comprehensively, invest more and insist at both national and local level on the resources made available actually being spent in ways that will achieve real outcomes. We are more than open to considering new suggestions, including apprenticeships and getting a buy-in among employers or other elements of society that could prove helpful in what must be a transition over time. We must change the narrative and relationship between Travellers and communities that have hang-ups and fears about them.

I pay tribute to the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, in dealing with this issue. He has shown remarkable leadership and put a huge amount of time into dealing with a hugely important issue that is challenging from a policy perspective. I know that he will continue to give leadership in that regard.

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