Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Perhaps I was too timid. I had four minutes at the end of Deputy Carroll MacNeill's contribution and I should have spoken up then. I promise that only two and half minutes were unused, so I do not think I will be wasting the House's time.

As a member of this committee, I welcome the publication of this report. I commend Senator Flynn on the work she has done. Her election as our Chair sent an important message. It was also an important decision for the committee because of the way that she chaired our meetings. I take this opportunity to thank her for that. I also acknowledge Deputy Ó Cuív, who is passionate about this issue, and I know other Members will agree with me on this point.

The findings in the report are stark. The lack of progress on the key issues affecting the Traveller community suggests there is merit in the idea that there should be a permanent Oireachtas committee on this matter that could oversee the Government's work more regularly. In the absence of such a committee, the responsibility falls on right across the board. It falls on the members of the Government, on the Ministers, on the Chairs of each of the committees, on each of us as members of the Houses and on the chief executives and members of the local authorities. I refer in particular to the recommendation that Part 8 powers be removed from local authority members. There is a clear warning here. Members of local authorities moan about powers being removed from them. In that context, here is a warning to them to take brave decisions on Traveller accommodation in their communities and then powers will not be removed. It is important that we take action in this regard, such as examining the provision of traveller accommodation. It is welcome that the allocation in this area was fully spent last year. That had to do with structural changes as well, which have enabled local authorities to access funding year-round. Small adjustments like that can deliver real change.

The mental health issue is probably the one that strikes me the most. Suicide rates among males in the Traveller community are six times higher than among their counterparts in the general population. This is not specifically referenced in material in front of me, but I refer to the level of addiction as a result of mental health issues, and we know that those issues are connected in many ways. I have spoken to the Minister of State with special responsibility in this area, Deputy Peter Burke, to tell him that it is important that we implement every one of the recommendations regarding mental health.

We talk about Ireland being a republic and about treating all the children of the nation equally, in the broadest sense of the word. There is no more blatant and brazen form of discrimination in this country than that to which the people in the Traveller community are subjected. It is discussed in open conversation, with no embarrassment. It is utterly unacceptable and, inevitably, it impacts every part of policy delivery.

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