Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

There was a very interesting debate in the other House this week on the question of whether members of the Traveller community should be recognised as a separate ethnic community in our society, although it sometimes seemed essentially to be a battle between the Minister of State, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, and Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn for the "most righteous person" award. Nevertheless, some interesting issues were raised. From my contacts with the Traveller community and people who work in and with that community, there are very mixed opinions about whether its members should be recognised as a separate group. Some of them take the view that even if they do have access to all the legal protections under the law to which they are entitled, their distinct cultural tradition and shared history mean they do, in fact, qualify as an ethnic group. Some Travellers make the case that the disadvantage they experience is so acute, there is a need to seek to alleviate it by way of formal State recognition of their status as an ethnic group. Others worry that such a development would be a form of tokenism and nice talk which would make no real or tangible difference in the lives of Travellers. Some Travellers want to be respected first and foremost as Irish citizens but also as Travellers. There are those, too, who see the concept of ethnicity as old hat, theoretically speaking, a view that is prevalent in academia. Some people claim the debate has moved on and become more nuanced to incorporate factors like ethnicity, nationality, social and cultural factors. Other people wonder whether designation as ethnic would act as a two edged sword and undercut Traveller culture and identity in the long-term, thus doing the opposite to what is intended. It is interesting to look at what has happened in Britain which we should find instructive and examine carefully. In Britain, Irish Travellers have been recognised as an ethnic minority and as distinct from non-Traveller Irish people for nearly 20 years. If one were to ask Irish Travellers in Britain whether such designation has made a huge difference to their lives or improved respect for their culture, one would get a very mixed response. We need a debate in this House but it should be framed by Travellers and engaged in by representative bodies for Travellers located throughout Ireland and not simply be contributions by lobby groups or State orientated think tanks. I hope such a debate and whatever recognition emerges helps to create a new healing and a more just and positive dynamic between members of the Traveller community and the settled community in society.