Results 261-280 of 1,157 for speaker:Eileen Flynn

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: I thank the witnesses for coming in. Until I joined this committee, I did not know there was a housing authority for people with disabilities. It is so welcome. We, in the Traveller movement, are looking for a specific housing authority for members of the Traveller community so I will be in contact with the witnesses again. Not many people even know there is an authority for housing that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: I did blab on a little bit because I know the other members will be gone for 20 minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: In the early days after I joined the committee, that was an issue that was brought before us. It is important if we are talking about accommodating people that the area around them is also fit for purpose. Numerous times at this committee I have raised the issue of making our play parks suitable for children with special additional needs. That is critically important. If we are looking...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: I thought the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach was going to let me talk all evening.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: As will I.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: The view that all people with disabilities can go in a certain location is absolutely wrong.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: Planning for Inclusive Communities: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: I thank Senator Clonan. I have to go to that committee as well. I will be there in a few minutes. What comes to mind listening to the women from Independent Living speak is the phrase, "Nothing about us without us." It is so important that people, families and the organisations that work with people affected by issues are at the heart of decisions and choices, such as what is going on...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Eileen Flynn: It is not that Travellers do not want to have a relationship with the local authority or with TDs, it is just that the level of trust is not there due to continuous failures for Travellers in services. It is not that the community does not want those relationships - people do want them - but if they see generations before them being failed or constantly being let down that is where the...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Eileen Flynn: I thank Ms Brack. One of the purposes of this meeting is for us as a committee to hear this information the witnesses are delivering and to hear them answer the hard questions being put to them in order that we as a committee can use it as ammunition and try our best to ensure implementation.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Eileen Flynn: It is very important to state that all the issues are interlinked. With regard to modular homes, it is down to a choice. Many members of the Traveller community would not chose them and it is important that we remember this today. It is down to personal choice. When we speak about homes-----

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Eileen Flynn: They are like chalets. They have a different name but they are very similar to some Traveller accommodation. Some of our community choose to live in a trailer or in a house.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Eileen Flynn: We need to be mindful when we speak about homes that we automatically think about a house. For many Travellers, it happens to be a trailer. With regard to some of the points on implementation, before we move off them, the committee has met numerous times in private session. We have written to the Department looking for updates on where we are with the 84 recommendations that were in our...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Eileen Flynn: We will be meeting the National Traveller MABS about the Traveller caravan loan scheme soon. Is Deputy Ó Cuív happy?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Eileen Flynn: Our Vice-Chair has to be happy.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Eileen Flynn: Yes.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Eileen Flynn: I thank Ms Brack for her answer and Deputy Ó Cuív for his question. Before I forget, I wish to say that the TAP is not fit for purpose. The Deputy’s point on that was important.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Eileen Flynn: Would anybody else like to come back in? I have a few questions. For the past three years, I have been in the Seanad and part of this committee. It has not been running for a year and a half. With regard to holding local authorities to account, the TAP, and listening to what Senator Gavan said about there possibly being no need for this, that maybe we should be focusing on a national...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Eileen Flynn: Going back to what Deputy Buckley was saying earlier, it just seems so challenging, and the political will at a local level is just not there. There is one challenge after another. Even if you get the permission for the redevelopment, and I would know this from Labre Park, you have then got the challenges of Part 8 as well.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Eileen Flynn: Have any of the 84 recommendations been implemented?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (30 Nov 2023)

Eileen Flynn: It is important we touch on some of the positives from the committee and the work we can collectively do. If no other member wishes to come back in, I will thank Ms Brack and Mr. Joyce for presenting to us. The committee knows these are not new issues and we do not have to recreate the wheel. The answers are there through the expert group, the committee, the national organisations and...