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Speech by Ms Mary Wallace, T.D.

Speech by Ms Mary Wallace, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform at the launch of an Anti-Discrimination Equality Pack for the Irish Traveller Movement on 21 February, 2001

Good Afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am very pleased to have the opportunity to launch this Anti-Discrimination Equality Pack for the Irish Traveller Movement. The Equality Pack, which was developed by the Irish Traveller Movement in conjunction with the Equality Authority is designed to assist Travellers and Traveller organisations in tackling issues of discrimination. Such initiatives are very important, in my opinion, in providing information about legislation and procedures in an easy to follow format. The Equality Pack will prove to be a valuable reference for Travellers on the equality legislation and procedures for making complaints.

For too long the Travelling community has had to experience direct and indirect discrimination. We are fortunate, however, in that there has been a number of positive developments in Ireland over the past two years which will help towards the promotion of equality and the elimination of discrimination for Travellers.

Our two important pieces of anti-discrimination legislation, namely, the Employment Equality Act, 1998 and the Equal Status Act, 2000, were brought into operation within the past two years by the Government. It is significant and appropriate that membership of the Traveller community is one of the nine grounds listed in both Acts. The new Acts are landmarks in our efforts towards equality and fair treatment for all sectors of society both inside and outside the workplace.

The legislation is supported by the Equality Authority and the office of Director of Equality Investigations. The Authority works towards the elimination of discrimination and the promotion of equality of opportunity in the areas which are the subject of the legislation. The office of the Director of Equality Investigations provides the main locus of redress of first instance for individuals who consider that they may have suffered discrimination.

Now that the legislation and the infrastructure are in place, it is important to ensure that Travellers as well as other minority groups are aware of their rights under the legislation and the procedures to follow if they need to make a complaint. Effective implementation requires that both service providers and members of the public are clear on their obligations. Initiatives like the one being launched today are to be welcomed.

I was impressed with the attractive design and the user-friendly layout of the Equality Pack. As well as information on the equality legislation, the Equality Authority and the Office of the Director of Equality Investigations, it contains guidelines on how to make a complaint, a copy of the complaint form, and a schedule showing the time limits for making a complaint. All of the information is arranged in a very easy to follow format along with two video tapes.

Along with our equality legislation, other measures are necessary to help towards the promotion of equality and the elimination of discrimination for Travellers. There is a need for measures designed to improve relationships between Travellers and the settled community. With this aim in mind, the Government provided a sum of £900,000 to fund the Citizen Traveller Campaign over a three year period 1999 to 2001. This is the third and final year of the campaign at the end of which an evaluation of the effectiveness of the campaign will be undertaken.

The Monitoring Committee which co-ordinates and monitors the recommendations of the Task Force on the Travelling Community submitted its first progress report to Government last December and I understand that it will be launched within the next few weeks. The Department also provides generous funding towards the Traveller Mediation Service, operated by Pavee Point Traveller Centre.

The Government is committed to combating racism and discrimination through informing public opinion and promoting a more tolerant society on the 6th February, 2001. Minister O'Donoghue recently announced the composition of the High Level Steering Group which will be implementing the proposed three-year Anti-Racism Awareness Programme. The £4.5 million programme will help to stimulate public awareness and understanding of cultural diversity in this country. It will also help to create the conditions that make it difficult for racism and discrimination to exist.

The functions of the new Human Rights Commission will include keeping under review the adequacy and effectiveness of law and practice in the State relating to the protection of human rights; bringing court proceedings or providing assistance to persons in human rights cases, and conducting enquiries in relation to complaints about infringements of human rights.

All of the above measures will assist in the process of providing equality of treatment for Traveller and other minority groups. We need, however, to continue our efforts to build a more inclusive and intercultural society in Ireland where racism and discrimination is effectively addressed and cultural diversity is viewed as a strength.

Keeping Travellers informed of their rights under our anti-discrimination legislation is a step in the right direction. I congratulate the Irish Traveller Movement and the Equality Authority on the development of this useful Equality Pack and I wish the ITM and, in particular, its Anti-Discrimination Working Group every success in its aim of achieving equality and human rights for the Traveller community.

For More Information Contact:
info@justice.ie

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