Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In view of the Minister's response, which quotes extensively from documents and publications by her Department concerning her Department's funding for Travellers and Traveller artists, I would like her to apologise to the Traveller community for refusing to take pretty much the same question on 3 October and having it transferred to the Department of Justice and Equality. From what the Minister just outlined, I note that she is now going to establish a committee on Traveller culture in the National Museum. What Travellers want to see is a sub-committee of her Department established to address Traveller artists, musicians, performers, playwrights and people who make television programmes. I am sure the Minister has met many of the people involved. I would like to hear from her the reason she refuses to engage with Travellers, other than in terms of programmes she has inherited rather than created.

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