Will you slow down, please?

I move: That Seanad Éireann notes the Report of the Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community entitled ‘Final Report of the Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community’, copies of which were laid before Seanad Éireann on 30th November, 2021.

I thank the Minister for taking the time to discuss this very important issue of what will be a life-changing report for many Travellers. It has been seven months since the Joint Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community published its report and four months since I addressed the Dáil on its recommendations. I thank members of the committee, as well as those of the previous committee that came before us, the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the clerk to the committee, Mr. Leo Bollins, for all their hard work …

I am aware that the national Traveller health action plan will be published in September. However, the specific actions that are required are set out in the programme for Government. The office of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, contacted me today about the national Traveller mental health network, NTMHN. We are going to meet the Minister of State on Thursday to discuss the matter. Hopefully, that is a step in the right direction and will bring about the change requested by the national Traveller mental healt…

Hear, hear.

I will keep my speech focused on people because I believe that they have been left out of this conversation. Last week, on my way up to this Chamber I spoke to Mr. Michael Doherty. I was going to stand up and ask how I could support a Bill that does not speak to or support the people but then I would not have been able to convey some of his words. Last Thursday, Mr. Doherty contributed to a programme on Highland Radio and mentioned that on Wednesday he wrote a few words about how he felt. He said, "We sat in the Ga…

Am I not allowed to say a person's name?

The man said, "We sat in the Gallery filled with anger and tears watching every affected homeowner get sentenced and fined tens of thousands of euro for the rest of their lives but no-one could tell us what we done wrong". I want to say the following to Michael and all of the affected homeowners. You have done nothing wrong. You have done all of the right things. Please bear in mind that the Mica Acting Group was established in 2013 yet we are talking about this issue as if it came to our attention two or three yea…

Hear, hear.

Yes.

I have a point of order around Deputy Pringle. The Minister said that he accepted seven-----

-----of Deputy Pringle's amendments. For the record, that is not true. To the best of my knowledge, he accepted one-----

I thank the Cathaoirleach. Next Tuesday, 12 July, will fall during the celebration of Traveller Pride Week. While June is a month for celebration and the raising of issues that impact LGBTQI+ communities, July is a month to value our Traveller community. Next Tuesday in the House, we are going to have a debate on the special committee report on Travellers. It covers five areas: mental health, health, employment, accommodation and education. I hope that as many Senators as possible will join me next week in celebrat…

I second it. I support 100% the Senator's remarks on the Why Not Her? campaign, putting women on an equal footing and everything else that goes with that.

Some of us cannot even go home with the protest outside.

Students' unions are often the heart of our universities. Unfortunately, I was never part of one myself but people always reached out. In the past four or five years, I have seen students' unions being very inclusive of people from ethnic minority groups and trying their best to include them. We cannot have legislation that does not include all of the students' unions and that does not treat the 24 institutions highlighted in the Bill equally. We talk about empowering our young people and empowering women to go int…

Not unless the Minister can give us back the 15 minutes.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.