I wish to ask the Taoiseach about the Government's commitment to recognise Traveller ethnicity. This morning, the ESRI produced a report on the many disadvantages in education, employment, housing and health faced by the Traveller community. We all know these. Crucially, the report states that ethnic recognition "could be of considerable benefit in ensuring respect for the cultural identity of Travellers in the context of targeted services". I raised this matter with the Taoiseach before Christmas and he told me of the work being done by the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton. I commend that work and have spoken with the Minister of State. The Taoiseach stated that the four Traveller representative NGOs would be invited to speak to the Oireachtas committee this month. Could we have an update on this matter and does the Taoiseach expect to be able to report that the Traveller community will have its ethnicity recognised before the end of this month?

The Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, has done quite a deal of work on this, as Deputy Adams is aware. I have asked the Minister of State to invite the NGOs that represent the Traveller community - all four of them - to attend at a meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee in respect of their propositions. I hope that will take place in the next couple of weeks and I will update the House afterwards.