Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Ceann Comhairle might forgive me for thanking him for inviting Travellers and representative groups to the Oireachtas last night. It was a very worthwhile initiative that should be mentioned.

I agree with the Tánaiste. We need to have an open conversation, not on the margins but in the centre. The statistics are truly shocking. They are not just statistics, they reflect the reality for people. The way to change them is through education, training and, ultimately, employment. As a community and society, we have failed to do this. Let us not simply voice our horror at some of the comments made about people on the margins. Let us actually find a solution to ensure the concept of true citizenship for all citizens can be vindicated in this republic. That would be a vindication of all the rhetoric about appreciating ethnicity and so on. If we believe what we are saying, let us take real initiatives in that regard.

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