Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the fact that Travellers have been part of Irish society for thousands of years with a culture that differs from the rest of the population and that it would be great benefit to all to have Travellers ethnicity recognised by the State; his further views on the importance of the State recognising the Traveller community as equals at State level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22158/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The question of recognition of Travellers as an ethnic group has been raised by some Traveller Organisations in the context of a number of international conventions notably the UN Convention for the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). The CERD defines "racial discrimination" as any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin.

The Government is committed to challenging discrimination against Travellers and has defined membership of the Traveller community as a separate ground on which it is unlawful to discriminate under equality legislation. This was not meant to provide a lesser level of protection to Travellers compared to that afforded to members of ethnic minorities. On the contrary, the separate identification of Travellers in equality legislation guarantees that they are explicitly protected.

The Government accepts the right of Travellers to their cultural identity and is committed to applying all the protections afforded to national minorities under relevant international conventions. However, the Government has not concluded that Travellers are ethnically different from the majority of Irish people. The point also needs to be made that the Government is not alone in making this assessment. The 1995 Task Force Report on the Traveller community, which consisted of Government Departments, civil society and Traveller representatives did not recommend that Travellers should be identified as an ethnic minority.