Results 201-220 of 1,383 for speaker:Eileen Flynn

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: I welcome our witnesses, Dr. Rosaleen McDonagh and Ms Rebecca Keatinge. Apologies have been received from Deputy Stanton, who might be a few minutes late. We have received apologies from Senators Joe O'Reilly and O'Hara. I remind members that they must be physically present on the grounds of Leinster House to take part in a meeting of the committee. I will not allow members to take...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: That is absolutely perfect.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: We will open it up to members. That was very interesting, especially around evictions.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: I thank Dr. McDonagh.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: The committee is aware that IHREC has taken cases against councils. From listening to other witnesses, we at this committee say that accommodation is a personal choice. As soon as we take that choice away and stop using the term "choice for Travellers", they will be pushed into apartments. I agree with Deputy Ó Cuív. We need to keep saying it is a personal choice for Travellers....

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: There is a lot that the Joint Committee on Disability Matters can do, along with us, when it comes to Travellers with disabilities. We are not just Travellers. We are also women and people. Whatever can be seen in the general population also happens in our community. Raising that issue is very important. Combating racism and discrimination is key. How do we break through, if we ever...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: This makes sense and I ask the members to bear with me. I refer to the local authority TAPs and what Travellers want. What came from the expert group review of 2019 and from this committee as well was a stand-alone agency or authority for Traveller accommodation. I would not be the best at law or whatnot, but the dogs in the street would know that the TAPs are not fit for purpose and the...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: That is very important. There have been great people engaging in activism for years. It is not only activism; it is meaningful work with reports.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: One hundred per cent. It is very important. The whole community is tired, looking for hope in that light and saying, "If we only had even the stand-alone accommodation authority for Travellers." A big change needs to happen and it has to be around accommodation. We cannot take our eye of the ball when it comes to Traveller accommodation because it is the wraparound for everything,...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: I think Dr. McDonagh is right. Is Deputy Buckley finished?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: Yes. There is a recent example of State racism and discrimination. Again, it is down to a person's choice. Some people may look and say it is racism but some people may look and say it is discrimination. People have differing views and there can be different situations. I agree with Dr. McDonagh that it is not State discrimination. She has opened that up for me. She has made me realise...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: I agree with that, and going back to what Dr. McDonagh said earlier when she spoke about homophobia and sexism as well, and has always said this over the years, that there is no race to the end. Racism is racism, no matter what community you are from. Again, people do not understand that you can be and are a member of the Traveller community who is in a wheelchair and has other needs as...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: this Dr. McDonagh is 100% right. There is no hierarchy of who endures the most. It is unfortunate that we have seen that lately, in that kind of way. For me, as a professional community development worker, that is dividing to conquer. Just before we finish, on behalf of the committee I wish to recognise James Stokes, a young Traveller man who played an absolute blinder in his campaign...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation (Resumed): Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (13 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: It is agreed. Thanks so much. I thank Dr. McDonagh. Our next meeting will take place in private at 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 20 June via Microsoft Teams.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Former President Mary Robinson (12 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: It is a pleasure to be here with Mrs. Robinson today. When I was six years old, I met her in Rathmines Women’s Refuge with my mother. To be here and have my picture on the wall next to her and other great women here in the Seanad is an absolute pleasure and privilege. When someone meets a six- or seven-year-old in a refuge or homeless accommodation, they might make an assumption...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: Two years ago, I introduced a Bill that would replace the phrase “child pornography” in Irish law with “child sexual exploitation material”. Today in the Seanad, a recent EU directive comes before us to strengthen the measures to combat sexual abuse and exploitation of children. Among many measures in the directive, it calls to replace the phrase “child...

Seanad: Control of Dogs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: I call Senator Carrigy and he will be followed by Senator Malcolm Byrne.

Seanad: Control of Dogs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Eileen Flynn: Excuse me. I can give the Senator a few examples of State discrimination if she wants. Trespass legislation is one example of State discrimination. I support the Senator’s Bill. I am not saying I do not support it.