Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is brilliant to have the opportunity to speak in front of the Taoiseach today as a member of the Traveller community and somebody from a minority group. I agree with the comments on the reform of the Seanad. We need diversity in both Houses, with people of colour and people from all different backgrounds as part of our parliament. I would like to raise the issue of the two-tier refugee system. I understand international protection and people just seeking temporary protection, of course. In the programme for Government, the Taoiseach promised to end direct provision; that is nowhere in sight. It is a major issue and we see, even outside of these Houses, that some people are treated with little or no dignity or respect.

Whether young or old people, we have a very bad mental health crisis. We need to deal with that crisis and recognise it for what it is. The Traveller community has even worse mental health problems. Traveller men are seven times more likely to die by suicide than men in the general population and Traveller women are six times more likely to die by suicide than women in the general population. In the past year, two 13-year-old boys in our community died by suicide. One of my great friends passed away in July by suicide. The Government is not investing as was promised in the programme for Government, with a ring-fenced budget set aside to deal with Traveller mental health.Unfortunately we have been failed again. Traveller accommodation has become worse in the past four years. If the Taoiseach wants to see poverty with his own eyes, I am happy to accompany him to Labre Park halting site on an announced visit. I would love him to take up that invitation to come onto the site with me to see how children on halting sites still have to live in Ireland in 2023. Just yesterday saw the report from Cork where segregation of the Traveller community is still happening. This is something that happened in the 1960s and 1970s whereby Travellers were put into one room to be taught in our education system. That is happening again. The Oireachtas joint committee on Travellers has 84 recommendations of which only four have been implemented. We talk about employment in Ireland having reached full capacity. I do not see that. Nearly 90% of the Travelling community are unemployed. That is appalling in today's Ireland. Travellers want to work and want education. We want to be an equal part of this society. This Government needs to give us an opportunity to do that and to start its programme for Government. Ending direct provision and supporting Travellers and mental health would be a great starting point.