Travellers to decide on ethnic minority campaign

Travellers are to decide today whether to wage a national campaign demanding ethnic minority recognition.

Delegates at the Irish Traveller Movement AGM will vote on a motion urging the Government to grant the community the same status as in England and the North.

Chairperson Catherine Joyce said ethnic status is of fundamental importance and would likely be supported by State bodies and human rights groups.

“Ethnic status would provide greater protection of Travellers cultural independence under law,” she said.

“This would include official recognition of Traveller culture in the provision of housing, education and health services.

“For example, nomadism would have to be properly catered for in housing provision.

“It also would have implications in terms of ensuring Traveller representation in the political system.”

If the motion is supported a petition will be drawn up over the coming months and be submitted to the Department of Justice.

Ms Joyce said there is already a strong case for supporting the campaign as reports carried out by the Equality Authority, the Irish Human Rights Commission, National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) and Amnesty International all came up with reasons to back such a move.

She added recognising Travellers as an ethnic group would boost the community’s identity among the settled population.

“The Government approach of assimilation in the past, of trying to house and settle Travellers, saw being a Traveller as something essentially negative and had the view that settling Travellers was the solution to the ’Traveller problem,” she said.

“However, formal recognition of Travellers’ distinct history, traditions, and culture would bring about greater understanding among the settled community and build confidence and self-esteem among the Traveller community.

“This would help bridge the gap that has existed for so long between the two communities.”

The AGM – Building Relationships – Recognising Identity – opened in Letterkenny, Co Donegal yesterday.