President says treatment of Travellers 'not acceptable'

Policy Response DateDecember 2, 2011 Country: Ireland Address: Dublin General Type: Equality/Integration Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Roma & Travelers Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Health and social protection, Anti-discrimination, Anti-racism, Integration - social cohesion, Daily life Hate speech/Racist Discourse Medium: Other

President Michael D. Higgins has criticised the living conditions of some members of the Traveller community – an Irish ethnic minority - in his speech at the third annual Traveller Pride Awards in Dublin honouring Travellers for their contribution to such areas as sports, the arts, music and education. Promoting an inclusive society and future, President Higgins declared the event – which was hosted by the Irish Traveller Movement as part of Traveller Pride Week – to be a “very important” means regarding efforts to “[dispel] misinformation about Travellers … who were treated appallingly … encouraging the media to make space for Traveller issues.”

President Higgins argued that while Travellers had rights to their way of life in a diverse society, a balance needed to be achieved respecting the rights of women and children. Hence, he said there were issues in need to be resolved within the Traveller community and further, that it was unacceptable that some families were still living without running water, electricity or washing facilities. Members of the Traveller community expressed that they were made to feel by Irish society that they had to hide their identity as Travellers; however, they feel that they should be able to be proud to be Irish and Travellers at the same time.

The President directed his appeal to both “the settled and Traveller communities [who should possess] the intelligence and commitment to solve all these issues.”

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