Senator Eileen Flynn:

I thank the Minister of State for taking the time out to allow me to address the House. I thank Deputies for the opportunity and for allowing me to be here on what is a historical day. I welcome my little girl, Billie, who is in the Gallery. Just before I came into the Chamber, one of the ushers told me that I should remember that I am not here for nothing and that I am here because I deserve to be here. I thought that was a lovely comment for him to make when I was coming in.

I want to start by speaking about the report. That is more important than me being invited to speak in the Chamber today. It is about the report. I thank Deputies for inviting me to address the House today on what I hope will be a life-changing report for many Travellers. The final report of the Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community is the work of many. Most importantly, however, the report was inspired by contributions from Travellers. National and local Traveller organisations and activists dedicated ourselves to many battles on the future for the Traveller community to ensure it has more equality of opportunity in Irish society.

I was elected Chairperson of the joint committee on 19 November 2020. Deputy Ó Cuív was elected vice chairman. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Deputy Ó Cuív again for all of his hard work and determination in working with us in the Traveller community over many years. The committee was built on the important work of the previous committee, chaired by former Senator Colette Kelleher. The committee made 84 recommendations in four areas, namely: health, including physical and mental health; education, particularly second and third level education; employment; and accommodation. If the recommendations in this report are implemented, and I believe they must be, the committee and all of us in the Dáil and the Seanad will be part of ensuring a better future for Travellers. That is something for us to be very proud of.

Before I speak any further on the report, I would like to formally welcome to the Gallery representatives from the Irish Network Against Racism, the Irish Traveller Movement, AkiDwA, Pavee Point, the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, the Muslim Sisters of Éire, the Amal Women's Association, the National Traveller Mental Health Network, Exchange House and the National Traveller Women's Forum. I believe that civil society organisations play a key role in society. I thank the organisations represented for their work and for being here today. I also thank my husband, Liam Whyte, and my friend, Damien Peelo, for being in the Gallery to support me in giving this speech today.

As I said, the joint committee's report includes 84 recommendations on four critical areas. The vast majority of the recommendations are not new. They just have not been implemented. We are looking for inclusive education and delivered health services, particularly in relation to mental health. We have all seen that the authorities have not provided appropriate Traveller accommodation. Oversight structures must be put in place and implemented to ensure that safe and culturally appropriate accommodation is provided for Travellers and families. We have been asking for these consistently. As the Minister of State said, over the years there have been many reports that highlighted the challenges that Travellers face in these areas, including the Oireachtas report. We are still here today discussing the recommendations. I cannot say enough in this speech how important and key the implementation of recommendations is. At the time of the launch of the report, Deputy Ó Cuív and I said that nothing will change unless the recommendations are implemented. Most importantly, a lack of action will mean the loss of hope for many Travellers and generations to come.

I almost hesitate to mention some of the recommendations because they are all very important. Still, some provide structure for change and will finally bring Travellers the services and support that we deserve as a community. We must establish a national Traveller accommodation authority to oversee the development and implementation of Traveller accommodation policy. The current system, whereby local authorities provide accommodation for Travellers, too often has not worked for Travellers. Time and time again, we see local authorities underspend on their allocated funding for the Traveller community. Between 2018 and 2019, there was an underspend of more than €72 million in local authorities in funding for Traveller accommodation. Yet the needs of Travellers regarding accommodation remain as serious as ever. Who will be held to account for families who are living in overcrowded or unsafe accommodation or who are homeless? The call for a national Traveller accommodation authority has been made many times over the years. The call was also made by the Traveller accommodation expert review group in 2019. The Minister committed to it then. Now, it is time to see it through.

What I will say next is the most important part of this whole speech, and it must be listened to and heard in this House. Young Travellers within the Traveller community are dying by suicide every day. There must be a stand-alone national Traveller mental health strategy with a ring-fenced budget. There must be a clear timeline of implementation and delivery for it. We need a Traveller mental health steering group that is run in partnership with stakeholders and, most importantly, with Travellers. The recommendation that a national Traveller mental health strategy should be developed and implemented is not new. The Government promised a national Traveller mental health strategy in the programme for Government. Only a stand-alone strategy will turn the tide on the Traveller mental health crisis.

I was delighted and proud last year to see the Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018 be passed by the Dáil thanks to my colleague, Deputy Pringle. I thank the former Senator Colette Kelleher and my Civil Engagement Group colleagues for bringing it through the Seanad. That Bill is now on Committee Stage. The Bill must be implemented as soon as possible. Not only must it be implemented, but it must be representative of the Traveller community. It must be implemented in our Irish education system as soon as possible.

The fourth important recommendation of the report is to ensure that we continue to move forward the commitments and the recommendations that the Houses of the Oireachtas made through the committee established to oversee the issues faced by Travellers. This includes monitoring implementation and recommendations, and delivering a follow-up strategy to the national Traveller and Roma inclusion strategy, as well as looking at other areas that impact on Travellers' lives. We cannot just live in hope that things will get better for the Traveller community. We have to implement the recommendations that are already there.

When I was thinking about what I would say today, I thought of the great John Hume, who spoke gracefully of the vital importance of people working together for a better future. I am a strong believer in solidarity and allyship. I base my activism around it.

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