Traveller racism and presidential campaign
Deputy Barry condemned racist comments aimed at Travellers during the presidential campaign and welcomed planned protests by Traveller activists. The Tánaiste said he did not want to give the issue more oxygen, stressed that Irish elections usually avoid such tactics, and pointed to Government action on Traveller and Roma inclusion; Deputy Coppinger interjected critically.
The programme for Government claims to aim to promote the rights of ethnic minorities. In recent days we have seen the spectacle of a candidate in the presidential contest singling out an ethnic minority. He has poured contempt on them with a racist commentary, all in a crude attempt to boost his poll ratings. These are racist comments from what we might call a desperate dragon. I understand that members of the Traveller community in County Tipperary will protest at the visit of Mr. Casey to their area this afternoon and I wish them luck with that. Many people will have a strong feeling of solidarity towards that protest. I also hope that the people reject Mr. Casey's lines of argument and give him an award on polling day next week - the award of the wooden spoon.
On the more serious but not totally unrelated issue of hate crime against minorities, when will we see a comprehensive response to the Irish Council for Civil Liberties report on that subject, which was produced last August?
Comment on this
I am not sure if it is helpful for me to give more oxygen to this issue in this House. One of the things we should and could be quite proud of in the context of elections in Ireland and politics in Ireland generally is that most of the time candidates do not resort to politics of the lowest common denominator, trying to build a profile through feeding a prejudice that undoubtedly is there but should not be stoked up.
Comment on this
A few Fine Gael candidates have, in fairness.
Comment on this
The Government has a strong record in trying to change the conversation on the relationship between Travellers and the settled community. The former Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, made a very emotive and powerful speech here when we recognised Traveller ethnicity in Ireland.
Since then, the Minister of State, Deputy David Stanton, to his credit, has followed words with actions in regard to a new national Traveller and Roma inclusion strategy, and we have followed through in terms of significant increases in budgets to be able to implement that strategy.
This is a vulnerable ethnic community in Ireland. Those of us who have the responsibility of office, or those of us who want the responsibility of office, should in my view show leadership and generosity in terms of trying to improve and change the narrative that Travellers are often subject to.