Results 181-200 of 1,123 for speaker:Eileen Flynn

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: I am sure that the other delegations wish to answer the question on access asked by Deputy Collins.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: I have spoken to the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. She is very open to sitting down with MABS to make sure that Travellers have equal access to financial services. Any time that I have spoken to her in the corridors, on getting Travellers equal access to services like financial services, she has been very good. We must arrange to meet her in January.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: Yes. Our focus, as a committee, is to get quick wins.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: That is a really good idea.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: It would be very strong if it comes from the committee because it is a cross-party forum.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: I thank the Deputy very much. That is a brilliant action. If that is even the only action from today's meeting, it would be powerful and something that we need to do.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: There are many challenges for Cena. In the past few weeks I have dealt with two families that Cena is working with. One is in Kerry, where the council is refusing to work with Cena. It is internalised racism. Obviously, they do not say it is racism or discrimination because they cannot, but we know because of the situation and the surrounding area. I spoke to the family in Kerry. The...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: Training was done with banks about two years ago around recognising domestic violence and coercive control. It would be powerful if those kinds of services had Traveller awareness. When a Traveller walks into a bank, the bank staff are not meeting the whole community, they are meeting an individual where they are. Services should be meeting people where they are, not judging a whole...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: We will take your money but we will not give it back.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: Would Senator Joe O'Reilly like to come in?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: We had a briefing on the hate crime legislation last week in the AV room. We spoke about the importance of having that legislation in place for members of our community. It will not stop racism and hatred. People will still have the right to be offensive, if that makes sense, despite the scaremongering out there about the legislation. We believe, as a community, along with the...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: Last week, a witness in the committee said that. It is public knowledge. I do not agree with it myself. What is the witnesses' opinion on that? Should we abolish the scheme? I know that it is under review, and that members of the National Traveller Women's Forum have called for a review of it. I ask the witnesses for their opinion on it. We have had a really successful meeting, with...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: Yes. As everyone can hear, Deputy Ó Cuív loves pilot programmes and reviews.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: I know.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: The Traveller community is like any other. CENA did some work in Labre Park some years ago. Community development work is essential. Sometimes, as with any group, complex situations arise in meeting people's needs. CENA is unique in that it works with the families. This is about future-proofing, to support a family to obtain the accommodation it wants. Having a choice of accommodation...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: It is important to be careful because many, such as my family, would not say Labre Park is a camp. They would say it is a halting site. It is important that people have that.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: Yes, everyone is okay with that.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: Even before we had witnesses publicly, we had the discussion about the trailer loan scheme. Language is important. Travellers have slang words. Some people say that a trailer is something that goes on the back of a van or a car, whereas in my life a trailer was a home to many a person. The Deputy has raised an important question that we as a committee need to look at about our language...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: I really enjoyed today's committee because of the actions and achievements. The small goals are important. I thank all the members and staff and wish everybody a happy Christmas.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Traveller Accommodation: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Eileen Flynn: Good morning. I welcome the witnesses to this session of the Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community. I remind members that they must be physically present within Leinster House in order to take part in the committee meeting. I will not allow members to take part in this meeting if they are not on the grounds of Leinster House. The witnesses should be aware of...