I want to remember the deaths of ten people from the Traveller community. Today marks the eighth anniversary of the Carrickmines fire. I want to remember Tara Gilbert, her partner Jimmy Lynch and their daughters Jodie and Kelsey, Willie Lynch, Thomas Connors, his wife Sylvia and their children Jimmy, Christy and Mary who sadly died in a fire in Carrickmines eight years ago. Unfortunately, eight years later, little or nothing has changed around Traveller accommodation. The extended family of the ten people who lost …

I always welcome measures that improve people's lives. However, while many short-term, one-off measures in this budget may allow people to keep their heads above water for a few hours and get people out of a dark space for a short period, they will not make a real long-term difference to highly vulnerable people. This budget has definitely not future-proofed life for people who are living in poverty. Of course, we welcome the news about the cost of living. The Government is saying there is a fall in that but it is …

Less than 1% of the Traveller community goes on to third level education. To many people in this Chamber, that may seem like a very low number. Obviously it is, but for us as the Traveller community, it is a high enough number. Going back 15 or 20 years ago, there was very little participation of Travellers in third level education. I welcome the supports and measures that have been put in place over the past few years by the Minister, Deputy Harris, around access programmes, especially access for members of the Tr…

Before I call the Minister of State, I welcome St. Tiernan’s Community School from Dundrum to the Chamber. They are very welcome. I call the Minister of State.

I should have added that the Minister of State is very welcome to the House. There is always a positive engagement when he is here.

The Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, is welcome to the House.

It is brilliant to have the opportunity to speak in front of the Taoiseach today as a member of the Traveller community and somebody from a minority group. I agree with the comments on the reform of the Seanad. We need diversity in both Houses, with people of colour and people from all different backgrounds as part of our parliament. I would like to raise the issue of the two-tier refugee system. I understand international protection and people just seeking temporary protection, of course. In the programme for Gove…

I do not have a speech on road safety statements. Some 23 years ago, on 22 October 2000, nine days after my mother passed away, I was in a really bad two-way collision in which a drunk driver crashed into the back of the van I was in with my uncle and drove us underneath a big 18 ft. bus. I was left in intensive care for five days. I spent nearly two years of my life in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, in St. Joseph's ward and I know exactly how lucky I am to be alive today. It is not a sad story; 23 operat…

I want to talk about Traveller education. The reduced timetables for Traveller education are still very much alive today within our education system and our schools. At least 4% of Traveller children in primary school are on reduced timetables and more than 10% to 12% are on reduced timetables in second-level education. Then, in special schools, 24% of the Traveller community are on reduced timetables. From reading the report, my understanding is that some of the children are put on these reduced timetables and it …

The Minister is very welcome to the House to discuss this very important Bill. I will not repeat anything my colleague, Senator Ruane, has raised. I agree with every point she made. As a community development worker who has worked for more than 16 years with communities that are overpoliced, I will make one point. In my lifetime, I have seen cases where the doors of members of the Traveller community have been kicked in and cots in mobile homes have been thrown aside. In one case, a newborn baby was in the cot. Com…

It is disappointing to hear that we probably will not be able to reduce the backlog of driving tests until October. As far as we know over 60,000 people are waiting to do their driving tests. I am aware that in April some 75 additional driver testers were recruited but those people need to be trained up. Unfortunately, the portal we have to apply for or cancel your test is not fit for purpose. I know from my experience of using it recently that it is not fit for purpose. Yesterday we had a Bill in front of us on ac…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to the House. As always, it is a pleasure having her here.

This is such an important matter. I would not like to say the word “issue” because people with disabilities are not the issue. It is society that is the issue, and previous Governments and the State are the issue. I thank Senator Clonan for bringing this very important and long overdue Bill to the House. I am very passionate about people's rights and I am passionate about the rights of people with disabilities. I first went on the Joint Committee on Disability Matters two years ago and I learned that people are not…

Would the Minister of State like to come back in?

I thank the Minister of State. I welcome our visitors from the Ballinasloe Active Retirement Association and from Tipperary to the Chamber.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

I am getting used to leaving her in the Gallery so that she will not be disturbing the House. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. Yesterday, I got word that a young woman who was living in Labre Park for a while before she moved - she was actually a good friend for the length that she was in Labre Park - passed away by suicide. Thinking of the last number of months, the level of suicides within the Traveller community has gone absolutely through the roof. It was visible for many years, but now it is even more visible,…

I move amendment No. 27: In page 20, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: “(3) (a) Where the determination includes a determination that the applicant is a relevant person, and where an applicant has provided any testimony or evidence of their lived experiences, including by means other than an affidavit, of their time spent in a relevant institution, a notification under subsection (1) shall further include a statement of recognition of those lived experiences. (b) A statement of recognition under thi…

The amendment calls on the State to provide a statement recognising survivors who are applicants to the scheme and who have provided testimony about their life experiences in the institutions. Survivors have been silent for far too long. We urge that, under the scheme, their stories be shared. They are very powerful and need to be shared and, most importantly, to be recognised. The redress scheme is supposed to be the main avenue for their experiences to be recognised. Of course, survivors will submit testimonies a…

May I come back in on this amendment?