Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I join others in expressing solidarity with all members of the Traveller community and their settled allies following yesterday's historic announcement. It was an historic day for members of the Traveller community and a momentous day for Irish society in recognising Traveller ethnicity, which was the right thing to do and about time. As I sit beside Members like Senator David Norris, I think of people like Tonie Walsh and other members of the LGBT community who waited unnecessarily long for equality. Last night the wait ended for members of the Traveller community. In his contribution in the Dáil Deputy Gerry Adams noted the 1963 report by the Commission on Itinerancy which had a huge bearing on the State's approach to and policy on Travellers. It established the policy on Travellers for the following 20 years and is one of the most shameful reports in the history of the State.