Emily Logan, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission stated today:
“Research recently published by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has shown that Travellers are almost ten times more likely to deal with instances of discrimination then the general population, and twenty-two times more likely to face discrimination when availing of some private services.
“This is just part of the reality for Travellers in Ireland today.
“The recognition of Traveller ethnicity over a year ago, was part of an acknowledgment that we have in the past simplistically labelled Travellers as failed settled people, and that this historic approach delivered a denial of their rights and equality of treatment in particular in education, health and housing which the State is still dealing with today.
“The legal cases currently being dealt with by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission continues to paint a picture of persistent discrimination and inertia towards the provision of services for the Traveller community, most commonly in the area of Traveller accommodation.”
ENDS
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Editor’s Note
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is an independent public body, appointed by the President and directly accountable to the Oireachtas. The Commission has a statutory remit set out under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act (2014) to protect and promote human rights and equality in Ireland, and build a culture of respect for human rights, equality and intercultural understanding in the State.
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is Ireland’s national human rights institution and is recognised as such by the United Nations. The Commission is also Ireland’s national equality body for the purpose of a range of EU anti-discrimination measures.