Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The heading for today's debate is combatting racism and supporting inclusion, two issues one would have hoped would be a no-brainer in 2020 Ireland. However, even thinking such issues should not be a thing shows a privilege that all of us must not face, however uncomfortable that may be as we listen to the real-life lived experiences of black people and people of colour in Ireland. Last week the legend that is Paul McGrath tweeted: "Honestly I think Racism exists everywhere. But being Irish means we should know a little of how it feels to be perceived as less than, even when in our hearts we knew we are all Equals." While it is true that the Irish have known our fair share of oppression, the reality is that during that oppression we still maintained our invisibility cloak of white privilege.

Of course, we know that there are many forms of discrimination, including socioeconomic, gender-based, anti-Traveller bias and generally anything that makes up a minority group will likely become a target of discrimination.

The fact is that race discrimination in Ireland has been, and continues to be, a significant issue and one that causes serious anguish to so many of our fellow citizens.

The spotlight at the moment is very rightly focused on racism because of the global actions arising following the murder of George Floyd. The focus, however, is not at the expense of recognising all other forms of discrimination. Shockingly, we can fight many different battles simultaneously and care about them all equally. Right now, one house is burning more rapidly than others and so requires our immediate attention. That should not be an issue for anyone who understands empathy and solidarity. We have thankfully seen a massive outpouring of support and solidarity across the world and across Ireland. While many have spent some days posting various issues on the hashtag Black Lives Matter, along with information pieces and black squares to their social media feeds, we must be conscious that when this visceral moment passes, the conversations and resulting necessary changes must not be brushed aside. There must be action to follow this.

While some negative things, rightly and understandably, are being said about social media, one of the most positive social media initiatives, among many, to emerge from the current situation has been the creation of an Instagram account called Black and Irish. On that page, black people from a variety of backgrounds in Ireland share experiences of both subtle and covert racism they have lived with here. The tales told are beautifully balanced by the details of the exciting and vibrant lives of the people telling their stories and the way in which they are contributing to Irish society. I could go on all day about this if I was to reference all the beautiful stories, and it is well worth taking a look at it. One could maybe read Rebekah who is half-Irish and half-Ethiopian and about to finish her master's degree in clinical psychology, or read of Samuel from Lagos and now Dublin who is a successful model, or Katja originally from Burundi who focuses on empowering young women. Each of their stories, and the myriad others on the page, tell of heartache and discrimination but all are hopeful of an Ireland that is improving and which is increasingly diverse and accepting. We must build on that. This improvement will only happen where specific actions and strategies are employed to ensure proper and cohesive integration and diversification. That means everything from schools admission policies to national housing policy to targeted funding for sports or other specific measures to increase participation of minorities. I look forward to next year when we see the various competitions in sport, which is one area where we see greater diversity. More needs to be done however. Equally, while it is refreshing to watch major media organisations here at home giving a proper focus to Black Lives Matter and to the experiences of black people and people of colour in Ireland, what we need to see as the current furore recedes from front pages across the world, is for actual action to flow from the current, but very welcome, lip-service. This includes seeing far more diversity on our television screens and in newsrooms with journalists, reporters and presenters who are not exclusively white. It means this Chamber and our Seanad Chamber having black people and people of colour in a representative capacity. There are two women here in the Chamber at the moment and it is very difficult, as a woman, not to notice the imbalance. Can one imagine what it feels like for people of colour to look in here and not feel represented. Ultimately it means that all of us must sit uncomfortably with ourselves and accept that true integration means challenging ourselves, sharing the microphone, sharing the spaces, and sharing our society equally. To do anything different is, quite bluntly, to perpetuate racism.

Although it is very welcome that there is a commitment in the programme for Government to phasing out direct provision within the lifetime of the incoming Government, that does not mean we should not do things now or call things out.

Several issues have come to the fore in recent weeks. I do not think we have satisfactorily dealt with the matter relating to Cahirsiveen and how it played out. That will be inquired into, and rightly so. People are still living in conditions that I regard as substandard. The benchmark we should use is to ask whether the accommodation in question is good enough for us or our children to live in. A report has been compiled on the situation in Milltown Malbay. Following its publication, I, and probably many other Deputies, received correspondence detailing that the ceilings are leaking, water is running through light fittings, there is no door on an en suite facility where there are non-familial shared arrangements, there is no privacy for occupants and rodents have been spotted in bedrooms. There is a lack of heating or hot water, with water only available for one hour per day. There a curfew on adults and the food is substandard. I continue to have serious concerns about that situation. When that plays out in the public arena, it sends a big signal in the context of how official Ireland treats people. We must return to that issue. I am not satisfied with how it has played out.

I echo much of what has been stated regarding the Traveller community. I remember a couple of girls coming to my office and talking about their hopes for the future. One of them stated that she knows that when she goes into a premises to hand in her curriculum vitae, it will be in the bin before she is out the door. I could not argue with her because the progression that Travellers hoped for has not happened. When one ostracises and excludes people, one will draw a reaction. There must be a significant programme of intervention and an acceptance that there has been appalling discrimination in respect of the Traveller community. The House will probably discuss the awful case reported in the media in recent days when it deals with domestic violence next week. There must be a follow-through on the experience of those women and the courage it took for them to go public about it.

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