Tuarascáil ó Choiste Comhairliúcháin Phoiblí an tSeanaid – An Lucht Siúil i dTreo Éire Níos Cothroime Tar Éis Aitheantas a Fháil Eanáir 2020 Seanad Public Consultation Committee Report on Travellers Towards a More Equitable Ireland Post-Recognition January 2020 Note on Artistic Contributors to this Report Report Cover Illustration The Report cover illustration is titled “Horse & Harness” by Ms. Leanne McDonagh. Leanne is a young Traveller woman who began practicing art at Crawford College of Art & Design in 2007 and graduated with an Honours Degree in Fine Art as well as a Higher Diploma in Art & Design Education. As a visual artist she feels she has a unique opportunity to represent and record her community from within. The “Horse & Harness” illustration “captures an intersection of the fair where all the dealing takes place, a place where the young and old gather and where the traditional and modern combine amongst the hustle and bustle that truly is the essence of the fair”. Cahirmee horse fair 2014 c LMCD. http://leannemcdonaghart.com/ Graphic Recording (on pages 3, 18 and 25) Graphic Recording, also referred to as Visual Scribing or Graphic Harvesting, is a method of visualising information. Ms. Hazel Hurley, an independent graphic recorder, attended the Seanad Public Consultation Committee hearings. She listened to and observed the witnesses and the ideas being presented and she then translated these into a concise visual representation using images and text. Hazel is from Cork, after completing a BSc in International Development and Food Policy (BSc) she went on to study Graphic Design and Illustration, so she could tell important stories visually. https://www.hazelhurley.com/ Report on Travellers Towards a More Equitable Ireland Post-Recognition Contents 1 Seanad Public Consultation Committee – Role and Membership 2 1. Overview 4 2. Chairman’s Preface 5 3. Rapporteur’s Preface 8 4. Summary of Recommendations 10 5. Context 13 6. Key Information 15 7. Theme One – Traveller Participation and Politics 18 8. Theme Two – Dialogue and Traveller Social Inclusion 25 Appendix 1: Seanad Public Consultation Committee – Invitation to Submit 36 Appendix 2: List of submissions received 39 Appendix 3: List of witnesses who presented to the Committee 41 Appendix 4: Orders of Reference of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee 42 Submissions received by the Committee are published separately to the Oireachtas website with this Report. The official transcript of the meeting of the Committee on 9th July, 2019, is also published separately to the Oireachtas website with this Report. Report on Travellers Towards a More Equitable Ireland Post-Recognition Equitable Ireland a More Towards Travellers Report on An Lucht Siúil i dTreo Éire Níos Cothroime Tar Éis Aitheantas a Fháil Seanad Public Consultation Committee – Role and Membership 2 The Seanad Public Consultation Committee was established by the Seanad in 2011 as a contribution to a broader process of reform and with a view to opening access to Seanad Éireann and its work. The Committee’s purpose is to provide for direct engagement and consultation between members of the public and the Seanad through a process which involves inviting submissions from members of the public on a specific issue related to its legislative powers or an issue of public policy. The Committee considers submissions made to it, invites contributors to present to it at public hearings which are held in the Seanad Chamber and publishes a report for debate by the Seanad or referral to the relevant Oireachtas Joint Committee. The Committee has examined a range of broad socio-economic issues since it was established. These include the Rights of Older People; Prevention of Cancer through Lifestyle Changes; Ireland’s Compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; Farm Safety; Children’s Mental Health Services; the Status, Treatment and Use of the National Anthem; and Small and Medium Sized Businesses in Ireland. Members of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee Chairman Rapporteur Paul Coghlan for this Topic Leas-Chathaoirleach Colette Kelleher of the Seanad Independent/ Taoiseach’s Nominee Catherine Ardagh Jerry Buttimer Maria Byrne Martin Conway Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Fine Gael Fine Gael An Lucht Siúil i dTreo Éire Níos Cothroime Tar Éis Aitheantas a Fháil Tar Níos Cothroime Éire Siúil i dTreo An Lucht Mark Daly Máire Devine Joan Freeman Pádraig Ó Céidigh Fianna Fáil Sinn Féin Independent/ Independent/ Taoiseach’s Nominee Taoiseach’s Nominee Report on Travellers Towards a More Equitable Ireland Post-Recognition 3 Report on Travellers Towards a More Equitable Ireland Post-Recognition Equitable Ireland a More Towards Travellers Report on An Lucht Siúil i dTreo Éire Níos Cothroime Tar Éis Aitheantas a Fháil 1. Overview 4 The 1st of March 2017, was a historic day for Irish society and for the Irish Traveller community. It marked the State’s formal recognition of the ethnicity of Irish Travellers, beginning a new era of mutual understanding and relations between the Traveller community and the wider Irish society. Then Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, said “Our Traveller community is an integral part of our society for over 1,000 years, with its own distinct identity – people within our people… recognition of Travellers could have a transformative effect on relations between Travellers and wider society…”. Despite the State’s formal recognition of Traveller ethnicity and, by extension, language, culture and history, the everyday efforts that Travellers have to make to develop their identity and space within Irish society is yet to be recognised. Travellers are still experiencing stigma, longstanding prejudice, discrimination, racism, social exclusion and identity erosion. On 27 May, 2019, the Seanad Public Consultation Committee called for submissions with legislative, policy and other ideas to tackle these challenges1. It was the first step in a Seanad Public Consultation Committee process entitled “Travellers Towards a more Equitable Ireland Post-Recognition”. A total of 67 submissions were received2, with each submission relating to one or both of the following two themes: n Traveller Participation and Politics. n Dialogue and Traveller Social Inclusion. Following review of these submissions, the Seanad Public Consultation Committee invited members of the Irish Traveller community, including private citizens, representative organisations and other interested parties, to make oral presentations to the Committee3. The public hearings took place on 9 July, 2019. The aim of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee was to consult with and listen to Travellers and others, and to explore proposals to support Travellers’ full equality and make recommendations on the way forward. This Report brings together the themes and sub-themes which have emerged from the submissions and the oral presentations from the public hearings. It highlights the key challenges facing Travellers and makes specific recommendations on the basis of the consultation processes under the two key themes outlined above. An Lucht Siúil i dTreo Éire Níos Cothroime Tar Éis Aitheantas a Fháil Tar Níos Cothroime Éire Siúil i dTreo An Lucht 1 Appendix 1 2 Appendix 2 3 Appendix 3 Report on Travellers Towards a More Equitable Ireland Post-Recognition 2. Chairman’s Preface 5 The State’s formal recognition of the ethnicity of the Traveller community in Ireland on 1 March, 2017 was a significant moment. It gave acknowledgment and vindication to Travellers’ unique customs and traditions and began a process of enhancing communication and understanding between Travellers and the majority population. In light of this new era of State engagement, the Seanad Public Consultation Committee decided to reach out to, consult with, and listen to Travellers and others to consider proposals to support Travellers’ full equality post-ethnicity and make recommendations on the way forward. The Committee began this process in May 2019 when it called for written submissions from community groups and activists from the Traveller community. The level and breadth of the responses were outstanding and showed the passion of the groups and individuals from the Traveller community. Public hearings organised under two themes were held in the Seanad Chamber on 9 July, 2019. The first theme focussed on “Traveller Participation and Politics”, the second on “Dialogue and Traveller Social Inclusion”. The publication of this Report, including its recommendations, represents the final stage of the public consultation process. Over the course of the public hearings, the Committee heard oral presentations from a variety of stakeholders from the Traveller community. Throughout all their submissions and presentations, one common theme emerged: “that despite formal ethnic recognition, there were still considerable hurdles in ensuring that Travellers are given an opportunity to have a satisfactory education, to be free from discrimination and feel a part of the wider Irish society”. The issue raised consistently throughout the public consultation process was around the lack of political representation for the Traveller community at local, national and international levels. Ms. Rosaleen McDonagh (Minceirs Whiden) was in attendance at the public hearings and spoke of her experience running for election to Seanad Éireann. Rosaleen sought election on four occasions and spoke about her lack of political and social connections and how it made it difficult to get support from within