Travellers groups disappointed at controversial bill

Travellers groups are expressing disappointment at the signing into law of the controversial bill outlawing trespassing by the President Mary McAleese.

The Pavee Point Travellers’ Centre says that just because the contents of the Act are now legal, it does not make the legislation just.

“We will be monitoring the operation of the Act with a view to highlighting constitutional defects and hoping to bring a constitutional challenge at the earliest possible moment,” said Ms Ronnie Fay, Director of Pavee Point.

She said the lack of progress on Traveller accommodation highlighted the need for an independent Traveller Accommodation Agency.

Representatives of Pavee Point have also withdrawn from the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee.

“We engaged in the work of the NTACC in good faith, but this committee has proved to be no more than a talking shop and not the genuine consultation process we believed it to be,” said Martin Collins, assistant director of Pavee Point.

“We cannot continue to be engaged in this sham.”