Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change) | Oireachtas source

Professor Michael O'Flaherty, director of the Vienna-based European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, described the issue of housing for the community as very worrying. Some 73% of Travellers surveyed said that they had experienced housing discrimination. Professor O'Flaherty has said that "EU-wide Roma and Travellers are experiencing a perfect storm of fundamental rights deprivation and challenge" and that the findings of the survey pointed to a "profound underachievement of strategies". In some ways, the Tánaiste has made my case. There have been reports, submissions and recommendations with regard to the Travelling community but very little has been implemented. He is right that some areas, such as public health units for Travellers, have improved a bit, but not to the level they should have. The fact that this report indicates that Ireland is probably the worst in all areas is a damning indictment of the State and its attitude towards the Travelling and Roma communities for decades.

The Tánaiste has not given an apology. I expected one. I will continue to pursue such an apology from both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael now and in the Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community. The fish rots from the head. Unless we get leadership from the top, we will not get change at the bottom. That has to change.

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