Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the launch of the new National
Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy for the years 2017 – 2021.
As you all know, since 2015 my Department has co-ordinated a comprehensive
public consultation in relation to the drafting of this Inclusion Strategy.
At the end of that consultation process, I decided to hold back on the
finalisation of the Inclusion Strategy pending the Government decision
regarding recognition of Traveller ethnicity.
I have had a deeply-held interest in this topic over the course of many
years. You may recall that, in 2014, in my then role as Chair of the then
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality, I presented a report on
the Recognition of Traveller Ethnicity in April 2014.
It is well known that there was a long-standing campaign by Travellers,
over the course of several decades, to have your identity, culture and
unique position in Irish society recognised and valued by formal
recognition of you by the State as a distinct ethnic group. Such
recognition is without prejudice to your also being part of – and
self-identifying as part of – the Irish nation. To all of you who
contributed to that campaign and who are here today, I say thank you.
I would like to point out that a lot of work on this issue had been carried
out by my predecessor, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. There was also excellent work
done by Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Senator Colette Kelleher on this
issue and I am grateful to them.
In what was an unprecedented step, a delegation of four Traveller
representatives met the Cabinet Committee on 06 February 2017 and feedback
received from Cabinet Committee members following the presentation was very
positive.
To Maria, Martin, Michael and Brigid and to your alternates Thomas and
Kathleen, I want to use this opportunity to mention to all here how well
you represented your community on that occasion. It was a privilege to hear
you presenting your case to the Cabinet Committee.
The decision to announce State recognition of Traveller ethnicity, which
was announced by the Taoiseach on 01 March 2017, has rightly brought great
joy to Travellers. As I am sure you will agree, the evening of the
Taoiseach’s statement in the Dáil was a memorable and remarkable occasion
in the Dáil chamber.
In all of my years as an elected representative, I have rarely seen such a
happy and emotionally charged occasion where all sides of the Dáil came
together to mark – and indeed celebrate – an issue.
It was particularly special that the viewing gallery was filled with
Travellers and advocates who had campaigned so hard for State recognition
of Traveller ethnicity.
I truly hope that State recognition of Traveller ethnicity will act as the
platform for transformative change for the Traveller community.
While not a legal or legislative issue, such a symbolically important
gesture of respect by the State, will – I hope - empower Traveller leaders
to call on your community to rise to the challenge of transformative action
on important issues, in partnership with the State and on the basis of an
honest dialogue and a focus on solving real problems for the benefit of
your community.
The key argument for ethnic recognition is that recognition of the distinct
heritage, culture and identity of Travellers and your special place in
Irish society is hugely symbolically important to Traveller pride, to
Traveller self-esteem and to overcoming the legacy of economic
marginalisation, discrimination and low self-esteem with which your
community struggles.
This is not to ignore the real problems that your community faces. However,
this recognition by the State creates a new platform for positive
engagement by the Traveller community and Government together in seeking
sustainable solutions (which are based on respect and on an honest
dialogue) to those problems.
Ethnic recognition has the potential to create the circumstances where my
Department and other Departments and Agencies can engage with Travellers on
– and Traveller leaders can credibly call on their community to participate
in – an action plan to tackle and seek to solve key problems facing the
Traveller community.
My Department has identified feuding as a pivotal issue that will be put
centre-stage in the implementation of this Inclusion Strategy, in that the
anti-social behaviour of a small minority of your community and its
negative ramifications impact directly on mental health, physical health,
position of women and children, employment and on accommodation issues.
Design of a culturally appropriate intervention, in conjunction with
Traveller representatives and relevant public sector bodies, to address
this is one of the key pillars of the new Inclusion Strategy.
I feel that in implementing this Inclusion Strategy, it will be important
to build on the wave of positivity arising for Travellers from the
Taoiseach’s statement.
In the past week, I have been happy to attend several Traveller Pride Week
events including the Traveller Pride Awards and the event in the IFI
organised by Minceirs Whiden. It is apt now that, in the midst of Traveller
Pride, we are launching this Inclusion Strategy. Your community really has
a lot of which to be proud – your culture, your heritage, your skills, your
storytelling, your music, your love of family – but you also need to work
together and with us to ensure that the unique value of your community is
protected into the future.
It is important to consider the position of the Roma community in Ireland.
I recently launched a new Migrant Integration Strategy and implementation
of that Strategy will also be relevant to your community.
It is worth noting, however, that some Roma are among the most deprived and
marginalised people in our country. The new National Traveller and Roma
Inclusion Strategy addresses issues focussed on your community’s needs and,
I hope, will result in an improvement in your overall quality of life in
Ireland.
Ireland is now a diverse country and we need to work together to ensure
that everyone feels welcome and included in our society and that everyone
has the ability to fulfil their potential.
I was delighted to accept invitations to a number of Roma events across the
country during the past year, as Minister, and I thank you for the warm
welcome I received at those events.
I want to mention that my officials will be arranging the next meeting of
the Roma Committee shortly and will be keen to hear your views in relation
to the actions that relate specifically to your community.
I want to thank all of the officials from Departments and Agencies and all
of the Traveller and Roma advocates who contributed to this Inclusion
Strategy. I think it is a valuable step forward in the lives of Travellers
and Roma in Ireland. I am now delighted to formally launch the Inclusion
Strategy.
You might like to note that we chose the cover design of this Inclusion
Strategy on the basis that it reflects a new dawn and – I hope – represents
a new and exciting phase for Travellers and Roma in Ireland.
There are some copies of the Inclusion Strategy available here today. It
will also be available for download from my Department’s website later
today.
I have stressed that the Inclusion Strategy must be regarded as a living
document, with monitoring of its implementation a key and integral part of
its potential success.
As you know, there is likely to be a change of responsibilities at
Ministerial level shortly. I want to assure you that, whatever happens, I
will continue to work to support your communities.
I hope that you will join with us now to celebrate the launch of this
Inclusion Strategy and to enjoy some well-earned refreshments.
Thank you.