Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the MEPs for coming to the House this evening. We talk about the sustainable development goals at a European Union level and I have heard a lot here this evening about poor people and poor communities. At a European Union level, what is being done to engage with the most vulnerable communities such as the Romanian communities, the Gypsy people, members of the Traveller community, and those of us who live in dire accommodation? One of the MEPs has said that maybe we should go over to Brussels. I invite our three MEPs, and many more MEPs, into a halting site in Dublin such as Labre Park to see the appalling living conditions in which people must live in our country today. This is not unique to Ireland. This is happening all over Europe for very poor communities. What is being done to engage with those people? Poor people are not even part of this conversation, unfortunately, and we have a hell of a long way to go. Where is the European Union on that?