Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

——or when it went out of office, a disabilities Bill was withdrawn. At the recent Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis, the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy O'Dea, indicated that a Bill would be introduced within two weeks. We have seen no sign of that legislation. At what stage is the legislation and what is the Government's intention in regard to this area?

The second point I wish to raise concerns something that happens every year and we are seeing the start of it now as is clear from today's newspapers. A convoy of mobile homes moved into Wexford and an hotel had to close, resulting in the loss of jobs, when 400 people moved to a site owned by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. In Rathkeale in my constituency 50% of those on the electoral register belong to the Traveller population. In many cases the equality legislation has found in favour of the Traveller community in regard to discrimination. The rights appear to be stacked in that direction. However, I say to the Traveller community that the settled population has equal rights.

We are now at the start of the summer season. Is it to be punctuated continually with reports of convoys moving into areas where, in many cases, much debris is left behind? The Garda has scant enough resources. The Garda authorities said today it would take approximately 200 gardaí and 30 tow trucks to move the convoy out of Wexford. Under the legislation, the Garda has the power to move them on. However, there are certain deficiencies that allow a convoy of Travellers to build up and invade an area, whether in Wexford or elsewhere. The same problem has arisen at Knock where they moved into the park. I ask that the issue be addressed while reflecting the rights of the settled community.