The Equality Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) today both made formal presentations to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality calling on the State to recognise Travellers as an ethnic minority.
Both organisations have recommended to Government in the past to recognise Travellers as an ethnic group. It has been pointed out by both bodies that recognition of ethnicity is key to ensuring that the Traveller community is covered by the international human rights protections against discrimination, including under EU law, which apply to such an ethnic group.
Drawing on the previous extensive work and research undertaken by the Equality Authority and the IHRC, both organisations reiterate their call that the Government immediately take steps to formally recognise Travellers as an ethnic group.
Des Hogan, Acting Chief Executive of the IHRC stated
"The recognition of Traveller ethnicity has been a key human rights objective of the IHRC for many years. While the State has been slow to give this matter the consideration it deserves, we hope that these hearings before the Joint Oireachtas Committee are an indication that the State is finally open to taking the historic step of recognising Travellers as an ethnic minority. The IHRC will draw the Committee’s attention to the legal principles underpinning recognition and how recognition is not only important in terms of human rights protection for the Traveller community, but will also benefit the State by avoiding continued criticism at an international level for failure to comply with the recommendations of various expert bodies that have called for such recognition."
Renee Dempsey, Chief Executive of the Equality Authority commented
"The recognition of Traveller ethnicity is seen by the Equality Authority as central to achieving equality of status for the Traveller community. Before the Oireachtas Committee today we will draw attention to an extensive report on Traveller Ethnicity published by the Authority in 2006. At that time the Authority was able to confirm that international and national research on the issue of ethnicity supported the claim of the Traveller Community to recognition as an ethnic group. The Equality Authority views formal recognition of Traveller ethnicity as both legally necessary and socially beneficial for the State."
ENDS/
For further information please contact Fidelma Joyce, IHRC, Mob: 087 783 4939 or Brian Merriman, Equality Authority, Mob: 087 9608658
Notes to Editor
- Oireachtas Joint Committee meeting takes place at 2.00pm in Room CR2 LH2000.
- In 2004 the IHRC published a Discussion Paper on Traveller Ethnicity: Travellers as an ethnic minority under the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: A Discussion Paper.
- In 2006 the Equality Authority published an extensive research report on Traveller Ethnicity entitled: Traveller Ethnicity: An Equality Authority Report.
- In 2013 the IHRC made a Submission to Government on Traveller Ethnicity; Submission on the Recognition of the Traveller Community as an Ethnic Minority in the State, January 2013.
- The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has recommended twice that the State recognise Travellers as an ethnic Minority:
- Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (2005), CERD/C/IRL/CO/2.
- Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (2012), CERD/C/IRL/CO/3-4.
- In 2008 the Human Rights Committee recommended that Ireland recognise Travellers as an ethnic minority:
- Human Rights Committee, CCPR/C/IRL/CO/3
- The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice Defence and Equality and have held two previous hearings on recognition of Traveller Ethnicity.
- On 17 2013, the Committee heard from Traveller organisations
- On 12 June 2013 the Committee heard from academics on the topic of Traveller ethnicity .