Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Before the recess, we were discussing this very important legislation. It feels a bit like déja vu. Some of the issues have come up in amendment after amendment. To be fair to the Civil Engagement Group, Senators Higgins, Ruane and Black have reached out to community organisations and DPOs. For us, the sustainable development goals are a no-brainer to support. Every child should have a right to running water, education and so on. Those are only two of the goals I am speaking to.

This impacts on Traveller accommodation more than on any other form of accommodation in this country. Some like to think we are all gloom and that there is good quality accommodation. As a member of the Traveller community who lived the majority of her life in a run-down old hut in Ballyfermot, that is not the case. Senator Higgins spoke to amendment No. 64. We could be writing up amendments to this section and speaking on them until we are blue in the face. The Government needs to support Traveller accommodation. Now is the time to do so.

On amendment No. 62, we have to name disabled people in planning and in every Bill that goes through the Houses. Especially in development plans, it should be a case of nothing about us without us. I am so tired of using that phrase. It never seems to be listened to by any Ministers. They talk about representation and speaking up. Along with my three colleagues, I am absolutely exhausted putting amendments forward. We worked with the Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community. I sit on both the disability matters committee and the Traveller committee. People with disabilities are only referred to four times in this Bill of more than 700 pages. Travellers are mentioned twice, I think. Honestly, the Minister of State can be the Minister for change. I know we are coming up to an election but time after time, it is okay to sit and reject amendments that are so important in respect of the sustainable development goals, Traveller accommodation, people with disabilities, accommodation for disabled people. Even in the next term, the Dáil will still be playing the one old tune. This legislation gives us the opportunity to change that tune and to give people meaningful support when it comes to accommodation. When you go on to a halting site, you very rarely see a ramp at a house door, as if disabled people did not exist within the Traveller community. We are not future-proofing or providing sustainable accommodation when we exclude people with disabilities and Traveller accommodation.

In the past four and a half years, I have dealt with three Ministers with responsibility for Traveller accommodation. What has been done for Traveller accommodation, even with the Traveller committee? Very little. The money is there but the land is still too valuable for the Travellers, too valuable to live next door to Traveller people. That is an absolute shame on this State. Before the recess, I had the height of respect for the Minister of State. I have good relationships in this House and in the Dáil but it is so disheartening. How do I tell the people in my community who are living in boxes and have absolutely appalling accommodation that I was in here advocating on their behalf and have tried my absolute hardest but have got little or no support from the Government around Traveller accommodation? Next week, when we meet the commissioner for human rights and equality, it is all going to come up about accommodation, yet not one of our amendments around disability, Travellers or even the strategic goals has been supported. I encourage the Minister of State, if he has any leeway to support any of our amendments, to do what is right.