Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am aware that the national Traveller health action plan will be published in September. However, the specific actions that are required are set out in the programme for Government. The office of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, contacted me today about the national Traveller mental health network, NTMHN. We are going to meet the Minister of State on Thursday to discuss the matter. Hopefully, that is a step in the right direction and will bring about the change requested by the national Traveller mental health network. I thank the Senators for speaking on this most important issue today. I also thank the national Traveller organisations in particular for always having my back. I would not be able to do the job I do without reaching out to the youth Traveller organisations, Traveller mental health organisations and organisations such as Pavee Point, the Irish Traveller Movement and the National Traveller Women's Forum Ireland. It is vital that we have the support of those organisations. One of my biggest fears is that those working for Traveller organisations are getting a bit tired and burnt out. It is not because of their age. It is because they have been doing this work for years and very little action has been taken.

The Minister mentioned the review of the national Traveller and Roma inclusion strategy, NTRIS. We must hasten that review and implement a new national Traveller and Roma inclusion strategy, in partnership with Travellers, that includes a robust implementation and monitoring plan. There must also be ring-fenced budgets across all of its actions, as the Minister has outlined. It is extremely important.

This week is national Traveller Pride week. Today we can celebrate Travellers as a community within Irish society. I note we are not all equal. We are different individuals, even here in this House. However, we should be given equality of opportunities within Irish society. We are different. We wanted to be recognised as an ethnic minority group within the indigenous people of this country. We eventually got that recognition in 2017, but not a lot has changed for Travellers. Unfortunately, things have got worse for our community within Irish society. The community is tired and burnt out with exhaustion from looking for action. We know the money is there. As we celebrate our Traveller Pride week, I wish every Traveller in the country a happy Traveller Pride week and to tell our young people that there is hope. We have a lot of be proud of as a community. We are still here, despite the publication of the 1963 report that was meant to destroy us. We are still here and we are still standing. We are trying to hold on to every little bit of Traveller culture we have, to embrace it and not be embarrassed about it because society tells you which way you should be within society, if you want. We have a lot of be proud of.

Unfortunately, as the Cathaoirleach said, successive Governments have not always supported the Traveller community 100%. This Government has the opportunity to put that right and to deliver a better Ireland and a more inclusive Ireland for members of the Traveller community. We are not the issue People talk about Traveller issues but we are not the issue or the problem; it is society. Unfortunately, successive Governments have not supported the Traveller community. I ask that this Government be the one to be the better change within our society and support us. We are not asking for special treatment. All we ask for is equality of opportunity. We are asking to be treated equally and with dignity, instead of having to beg for services constantly, knowing that we will die younger than our settled counterparts and that we are at a disadvantage as members of the Traveller community. It needs to end. We play an equal role within Irish society. I hope that the Government will deliver. Going back two years, the Taoiseach did the right thing in terms of breaking down the barriers. It might only be one but perhaps in a few years' time we could have more. It is a starting point and the Government has started off on a good footing. We must continue that and the only way to do that is through action. I thank the Minister for coming to the House.