Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I beg to differ with Deputy Burton. It is certainly not coloured by my own views on Travellers. I am sure Deputy Burton is not suggesting that. We have written back to the Ceann Comhairle on the matter. The national cultural institutions, which are under my Department's remit, and the Arts Council, have a number of initiatives to support the showcasing and celebration of Traveller culture. They are supported by funding from my Department. I trust that should clarify the position on the Department's role in the implementation of the Traveller and Roma inclusion strategy, to which I alluded. There was a reason for the approach taken in respect of the question tabled by Deputy Burton. I also provided the Deputy directly with information on specific projects in arts and heritage for the Traveller community, funded by my Department. Suffice to say, it is something that we are very aware of in my Department. Going back to the national inventory of intangible cultural heritage, tinsmithing, Cant and Gammon have now been recognised and protected for future generations.

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