Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for the opportunity to address the House on a theme of particular importance. We have a well established legislative and administrative infrastructure to support equality principles. The provisions of the Employment Equality Acts and the Equal Status Acts, together with the work of the Equality Authority and the Equality Tribunal, have given us a very firm foundation which is recognised internationally. The legislation provides protection as well as a forum for redress against discrimination. Discrimination is recognised under nine grounds, namely, gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race and membership of the Traveller community.

I wish to concentrate on the position of the Traveller community and to outline some of the important issues which must be addressed in a practical and meaningful way to underpin equality for Travellers. We live in a time of rapid social change and we see a greatly increased diversity of peoples who have their origin in other countries. In trying to adapt to these circumstances, there is a danger we may overlook a community which has deep historic roots in Irish society.

We all recognise many of the problems which occur around issues such as the provision of halting sites. We are all aware of conflicts between Travellers and settled people. For some people, their awareness of Travellers is derived almost entirely from such situations. Reporting in the media also highlights negative images. It is not surprising, therefore, that attitudes characterised by suspicion and fear persist both among Traveller and settled peoples. Many Travellers continue to live on the margins of mainstream society. Young Travellers do not, in general, enjoy anything like the same range of life choices available to their settled counterparts.

I acknowledge that Travellers have been subject to persistent discrimination and social exclusion for many generations. As Minister with responsibility for equality issues, I am very conscious that pursuing equality is not simply about reacting to discrimination and prejudice. We also need to give positive support to groups and communities in our society which face particular disadvantage.

In the wider equality arena, we have seen additional supports for people with disabilities through the national disability strategy incorporating the Disability Act 2005. The national women's strategy is a comprehensive statement of the issues involved in the continuing pursuit of gender equality. In regard to Travellers, there also have been a number of important strategic measures and instruments, the first of which was the report of the Task Force on the Traveller Community. After exhaustive consultation with stakeholders, the task force, chaired by Mr. Justice Fergus Flood, produced a comprehensive set of actions and objectives in its 1995 report. My Department chaired the Traveller monitoring committee which reported on the implementation of the task force report. By the time the monitoring committee gave its second progress report in December 2005, many of the task force recommendations had been implemented. These included the enactment of equal status legislation, which gives explicit protection against discrimination to Travellers. In addition to an overarching monitoring committee, there also have been separate consultative structures supporting policy development in respect of Traveller health, education and accommodation. Following on the last national partnership agreement, Towards 2016, a new national advisory body was created based on a renewed commitment from the social partners to give "concentrated attention" to pursuing progress for Travellers. In line with best international practice, the new national Traveller monitoring and advisory committee operates independently of Departments. This committee was inaugurated by the Taoiseach earlier this year under the Chairmanship of Mr. Kevin Bonner, the former Secretary General of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The committee includes a broader representation of Travellers than the old monitoring committee which it replaces. In addition to the principal national Traveller organisations, there are a number of other prominent Traveller representatives. A quarter of the committee's membership is composed of Traveller representatives. Already, it is playing an important role in distilling the views and advice of stakeholders.

The Government commits very significant financial resources to Traveller-specific programmes. In recent years this has been running at well over €100 million per annum. About half of this goes on Traveller accommodation and much of the remainder is spent in the education sector. Despite sustained funding over many years and the work of the various consultative bodies to which I have referred, the rate of progress has been somewhat disappointing. There has been an obvious need for greater progress and more effective delivery of services and supports by State agencies. Responding to this, a high level group on Traveller issues was established at the request of the Taoiseach.

The high level group is composed of senior officials from Departments and other State agencies. It should not be regarded as a replacement or a duplication of the work of other committees. It is working in a very focused way to improve the performance of State agencies in delivering their services for Irish Travellers. The work of the high level group is supported by a very firm commitment from the Taoiseach and the Government to drive forward the delivery of more effective services. The core objective proposed by the high level group is to ensure effective inter-agency co-operation using the structures of the city and county development boards. This arrangement is closely allied to meaningful consultation with Travellers and their representatives at local level. In March of last year, the Government endorsed the approach proposed by the high level group. This has led to each city and county development board establishing a Traveller inter-agency group to implement the Government-approved strategy. My Department and the high level group are keeping a close eye on developments. I am conscious that in some areas, there is much more tangible progress than in others. We are working with specialist bodies like Pobal who have vast experience in local and community development. We are also using the expertise of the Institute of Public Administration to help highlight the most effective approaches to management and administrative processes.

The work of the Traveller inter-agency groups incorporates the full range of public services, including law enforcement. Sometimes this is viewed as a separate issue. However, it is clear to me that effective law enforcement and building positive community relations require full co-operation from all stakeholders. Much has been made in the media of reports of crime among Travellers. I have no problem in also applying the equality principle to law enforcement. Therefore, anyone who commits a crime should expect to be dealt with through the criminal justice system. However, we must also remember that many of those most affected by crime committed by Travellers are other Travellers. This can occur through intimidation and obstructing access by service providers to particular localities. It is particularly true in the way that negative stereotypes can be reinforced to the detriment of decent, law abiding Travellers.

The Traveller community has had to deal with significant disadvantage and discrimination over many generations. Like everyone else, Travellers have had to cope with the very rapid social and economic changes that have occurred in Ireland in recent years. While these changes have brought many benefits, the pace of change has created its own difficulties. Many traditional occupations have died out, both for Travellers and settled people. There has been increasing pressure on older family and community structures. Young people, in particular, are subject to a range of influences which older generations did not experience. Unfortunately, the modern scourges of drug use and youth suicide affect Travellers as much as the settled community.

While Ireland has gone through an economic boom, it is fair to say that the full benefits of this have not been felt by many in the Traveller community. It is often said that a rising tide lifts all boats but we sometimes forget that not everyone has a boat. People with limited access to employment generally experience corresponding limits on the range of life choices which are open to them. It is worth noting that the idea of supportive positive action is included in the original employment equality legislation of 1998 in respect of Travellers, people with disabilities and those over 50 years of age. The concept was extended in the Equality Act of 2004 to encompass all of the nine grounds laid down in the legislation. In practical terms, promoting equality implies that we must be ready to support an environment where everyone has a fair chance to make the most of their abilities. While I am here, I will take the opportunity to mention that a serious effort is being made in some areas to rectify a wrong that exists and has existed in this country for a long time. The best example I have seen in the few months in which I have been in the job is the very hands-on approach taken by the county manager of South Dublin County Council, Joe Horan, who has provided wonderful opportunities for Travellers, as well as the respect they have for him and the co-operation and interaction that takes place on a regular basis. It is a great example to other local authorities in respect of what can be done. I would like to see some of the work and success enjoyed by South Dublin County Council being replicated around the country. If this council can be so successful, there is no reason similar results cannot be achieved everywhere else in the country.

In pursuing positive action, an essential link has to be made in the progression from education and training to employment. Retention in education is a continuing issue for Traveller families and a minority of Traveller children progress as far as the junior certificate.

I had the pleasure last week of attending a play written by a Traveller. It was almost a one-man show by Michael Collins whom some Senators might remember from "Glenroe". Apart from being a wonderful play, it contained a wonderful message. He explained to people how they needed to stay in education as long as possible in order to maximise their chances in life. It is a wonderful sketch and I hope it can be shown in as many parts of Ireland as possible. When one hears a successful Traveller explaining matters to and advising people, it is all the more meaningful. Last week's performance was a once-off which had the support of South Dublin County Council but we will make every effort to ensure it travels around the country and that other people are given the opportunity to see it.

I realise that there are many complex issues involved and I am encouraged that we have a comprehensive strategy to address these in the report and recommendations for a Traveller education strategy, which was published last year. This was the product of an intensive engagement between the education services, Traveller representatives and other stakeholders. The Department of Education and Science is leading the implementation of this strategy which will be of vital importance. We will continue to find it difficult to motivate young Travellers to remain in education unless they can be convinced that it will lead to meaningful employment and a reasonable income. I am aware of the views expressed by Traveller representatives that discrimination in entering the workplace is a continuing barrier for Travellers even though they may have the relevant skills and qualifications. I am also aware that this form of discrimination can be expressed very subtly — "thanks for your application, but the job is already gone". Unfortunately, this is the news to which so many Travellers have had to listen for a long number of years and is something we cannot tolerate or allow to continue.

By way of contrast, I would like to highlight some of the successful employment initiatives which have taken place recently. These have been based on an inter-agency approach, both at local and national level. A number of local authorities, in particular, South Dublin County Council and Clare County Council have opened up new routes into employment and enterprise for Travellers. This has resulted in direct employment in the local authorities and Travellers setting up their own businesses. The HSE is also building on the work of its Traveller primary health care programme. Recently it produced a new tool kit to promote further employment opportunities in the health service.

A further initiative was the Traveller internship programme in the Civil Service. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of participating with the Taoiseach in an award ceremony for successful participants. Under this programme 23 young Travellers gained valuable work experience. Some performed clerical duties while others engaged in general operative work with the Office of Public Works. The participants were enabled to develop a range of abilities, including computer skills, personal communications and team working skills. Some have gone on to other employment in both the public and private sectors. Others have opted to seek further education. Within public bodies, news of this programme and the local authority initiatives is having a ripple effect and further employment opportunities are emerging for Travellers.

I hope the social partners in the private sector will be increasingly involved in future initiatives to support Travellers in the workplace. We have already developed some of the supports that may be needed in this regard. It is very encouraging that FÁS has implemented a number of special initiatives in support of Travellers over the past two years, located in Clare, Cork, Dublin and Galway. These initiatives involved 200 people from the Traveller community and included almost 50 employment and enterprise opportunities. I hope this work will produce a coherent training strategy that will have an ongoing impact in all areas of the country.

It is nice to have some good news to report and the news is not just that people who might not have considered mainstream employment previously are now in the workforce. It is also about Travellers and settled people working together and developing some mutual appreciation and understanding. Positive action on employment is not just about economic progress. It is about breaking down barriers of suspicion and fear and moving towards inclusion and equality.

More initiatives will be needed to solve the many serious problems that remain. There continue to be problems with the delivery of accommodation and the general health status of the Traveller community. The important aspect of the employment initiatives is that it shows what can be achieved with a collaborative approach from State agencies and Traveller community representatives.

Since the 1995 report of the task force on the Traveller community, Ireland has become a much more diverse and faster moving society. An essential objective must be opening up mainstream economic and social activities to participation by Travellers. This should not mean that Travellers have to sacrifice their own distinctive culture and traditions. I hope it will mean that Travellers, like others, will adapt and re-invent their way of life to participate as equals in 21st century Ireland.

I referred earlier to necessary and helpful legislation. This is important but attitudes must also change. In modern Ireland we cannot allow what happened before, when Travellers were discriminated against in a despicable manner. Members of these Houses have a role to play and must show leadership to change attitudes that exist and provide equal opportunities for all. I thank Senators for their attention and I look forward to their contributions.