Colette Kelleher (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted the Minister is not opposing the Bill. I accept his invitation to work with him to develop the principles and spirit that have been captured in the Bill. As Senator Conway said, the Minister has significant powers in this area without the legislation. It is heartening to know that he will be using those powers, for example, with the audit he is proposing for the NCCA. I urge him to work with the Traveller community in that audit because, again, it should be a case of "nothing about us without us." In the past, we have formed policy without involving people who are directly affected by that policy. That would be an important point to make.

Senator McDowell said that the legislation is necessary. I believe that it is but it is not sufficient; we need to strike the right balance between the direction and will to address the fact that the situation for Travellers in terms of prejudice, discrimination and educational attainment is not acceptable and being prescriptive about it. I appreciate the points made by the Senator.

Senator Ruane had some very interesting ideas about how we can weave Traveller history and culture into curriculum across the piece rather than it being a case of "it's the third week of the month and we're now doing Traveller culture and history" and then forgetting about it. Senator Gallagher spoke about matching recognition of Traveller ethnicity, appreciating the similarities we have and appreciating and respecting difference. That was endorsed by Senator Noone as well.

Senator Mac Lochlainn spoke with great authenticity and first-hand experience of what internalised depression is and the fact that people feel they must hide their identities. Nobody should have to pretend to be somebody he or she is not. Schools should be warm places that encourage people to be themselves and to able to be out and proud about their identity in all shapes, shades and forms. I also thank Senator Grace O'Sullivan for discussing a neglected and misunderstood community and the points she made. We actually know little about Traveller culture and history formally and that is an important end in itself in the legislation.

Senator Dolan read a poem from John Agard and talked about Mary Seacole. I discovered those individuals when my children were attending a primary school in Tottenham because it had Black History Month. I had never heard of Mary Seacole, who was even more impressive than Florence Nightingale in terms of her nursing skills and ability but was written out of history. We need to make sure that people are written into history and that this history is taught across the piece and also has a knock-on effect in terms of people feeling valued and that they want to be in the educational system and part of the wider system. We need to tackle the disparities - 9% of people in the Traveller community between the ages of 24 and 35 complete the leaving certificate as opposed to 86% in the settled community and only 167 go on to third level. I could not count the people I know who have third-level education but that is the whole of the Traveller community. It is a community that has huge ability like every other community. It is just not given a chance or expression.

I am delighted the Minister is accepting the Bill and I am delighted by the support of fellow Senators. I thank Bernard Joyce from the Irish Travellers Movement for making this happen, Oein De Bhairduin, Jacinta, Sam and Ben in my office, who must put up with me on a daily basis. I thank the Civil Engagement Group, James Kane, Rachel and fellow Senators. I look forward to working constructively with the Minister in taking forward this important initiative for the benefit of Travellers but also for all our benefit and, ultimately, Irish society.