David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Uncharacteristically, I have nothing to add today except to join with colleagues in extending my sincere sympathy to the family of the garda who was appallingly shot and on the dreadful tragedy of the Traveller family. I would be less quick to judge the residents. The council acted outside its own planning system and did so within an hour and without consultation. It is an awkward situation. My wholehearted sympathy goes to the Traveller family, but the residents expressed their sympathies as well. It is a difficult, intractable human problem. It also shows that the original provisions for the Travellers were completely inappropriate. It was a fire trap. Any photograph that one might see of the area shows that clearly. They were huddled into the most squalid and inappropriate housing. It is humanly understandable that residents put in a situation of something being pushed through as an emergency measure within an hour or two would have some hesitations. It is regrettable. There is a long history of neglect of the Traveller community.I would be reluctant, without further knowledge, to sit in judgment on the residents.