Annie Hoey (Labour) | Oireachtas source

This is Traveller Pride week. It started today with the first ever Traveller Pride awards. I encourage people to check that out online. I want to note Rosemary Maughan who won the intersectionality award. It is very well deserved. Every day I learn from her online. I encourage everyone to follow and learn from her too. I congratulate all the awards winners and nominees for the incredible work they do for the Traveller community, often behind the scenes and unrecognised and often in the face of adversity and discrimination. Rosemary and many others talk online about their experiences. It is important to note that today.

We would not have this report without Senator Flynn and all the work she has done on this. We often say that it is not up to one person or Senator to represent an entire community or carry a community on his or her back but it is up to us as public representatives to support her and her community and to listen to what they have to say. We must advocate, listen, pass the mic and do everything we can in our roles to support that community. The report's recommendations are more than clear. As I read through them, I felt really sad that we need to have a report that contains such recommendations for a community in 2022 to make its lives bearable. It is not good enough. It is not okay or acceptable. It is a really important report and I am glad that we have it but I am sad that we had to have it at all and that in Ireland in 2022, we need a lengthy list of things that can and should be done to support that community. Speaking to Senator Flynn and other members of the community, I know that the number one thing to consider is that the Traveller community is working on these issues. They are experts in their own lives, experiences and histories and know how to best go forward to support themselves. It is important that the Minister or any of us listen to that community because they have the answers.

The community has been pleading for mental health supports. Scary and upsetting statistics have been read out here and we see them online about Traveller children taking their own lives. This is a community that is devastated by mental ill-health and the lack of supports available. That is a stark thing we need to get to grips with. It is in the programme for Government. I hope that it is a priority and that we see action on that.

Then there are jobs. It should be a normalised part of society. Travellers are members of the community with an incredible and unique culture and history but they are just members of the community like the rest of us. It should just be normalised when they are getting jobs and when they are a part of it. That is a really important thing.