Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to bring to the Leader's attention the Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018, which was passed in the Seanad in 2019 by former Senator Colette Kelleher. Oein de Bhardúin also did a lot of work on that Bill. We got it through the Dáil thanks to Deputy Pringle and we are looking at Committee Stage of the Bill. Unfortunately the money message has come into play with the Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018. We wrote to the Minister, as did Deputies, and unfortunately we have not received a reply. This is a critical Bill, not only so that young Travellers will feel more valued within the education system, but to educate all of the students within our schools. It might sound a bit stupid for me to say this but the benefit to people's culture, feeling valued and feeling part of a society in which we never felt accepted is more important than the few hundred or few thousand euro that the Department would be out. After everything we have been through as a community, it is worth it. I would like the Minister to rule out the money message. Money is being drawn down in further education and this morning I was speaking to a Cork disability group that wondered where the support was to draw down some of that higher education funding.

There is an awful lot of hatred and discrimination on our streets at present. It is very sad to be part of the Seanad during these horrible times but I want to use this platform for a positive note. I would encourage the Government and people in this House to send a positive message on their social media that we support refugees in our country. Divide and conquer and pitting communities against each other works for the Government, and I do not mean to sound bad by saying that. Everyone ends up talking about "them" and "us" instead of talking about what is happening at a higher level. Is it possible that we could get a campaign going? We always hear employment campaigns that state they are brought to you by the Government of Ireland and all that jazz. Is it possible that we could have a campaign that says refugees are welcome? I do not know what it would look like but that would be a positive message we could send to welcome refugees because after all, these people are fleeing war. They are in our country and it is up to us as a society to look after people who are here, who live here and who belong here. The Government could do a positive campaign.