Before I call the next speaker, I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery, and rightly they are there, retired members of our Defence Forces. I can see from their badges that they all served with the United Nations. I thank them for that service. They are all from Cork and Midleton. Quartermaster Tommy McCarthy brought them here today. I thank him for bringing former members of the Defence Forces who served with distinction with the United Nations and all across the world to the Seanad Éireann today. Go raibh míle maith agaibh. I call Senator Stephenson.

This is Traveller Pride Week. In recognition of this, I request that we have a debate on Traveller rights in Ireland. Traveller rights are human rights. As a result, this is an issue we should all be speaking about across the Oireachtas. The Traveller community has a rich and resilient culture that has endured and contributed a great amount to Irish life, despite generations of exclusion, discrimination and erasure. On Monday, I attended the launch of a photography exhibition called "Unfiltered" in Kilkenny by Gypsy Ray. It explored and captured the lives of the Kilkenny Traveller community over the last decade.

While this week rightly honours the Traveller identity, we do need to acknowledge the continuous challenges the Traveller community faces. Just 1% of Travellers progress to third level education. Life expectancy for Travellers remains shockingly low compared with the settled population, as much as 15 years lower. Suicide rates are six times higher among Travellers than the settled population. Those are pretty grim statistics. Worse still, even when funding is allocated to address inequality, it has often gone unused. The Irish Traveller Movement has highlighted the persistent underspending of Traveller-specific budgets by local authorities and Departments. This is shocking in light of the inequality the community faces.

I will spend the rest of my time today acknowledging the work of local Kilkenny poet Samantha Joyce by reading her poem "Pavee Lackeen", which speaks volumes to the discrimination and resilience of the Traveller community. It reads:

I am a proud Pavee Lackeen,

even though you may not see.

When it comes to discrimination, it ain’t no game with me.

I am a proud Pavee Lackeen, can’t you see?

Despite the animosity, I’m a proud Pavee Lackeen.

I wish the world would seek to understand me.

I am proud to be me regardless of society,

and what faces me.

I know I’ve got the backing of my community.

Being individual is hard, but I will always seek to be unique

in a world where being different is wrong .

I was always taught to stand out and be strong.

My life sometimes prevents me,

But I will always fight for what is right

And for my right to not have to fight

to be me.

In a world where my unity unites me

I strive to be the best version

of Pavee Lackeen Me.

As Senator Stephenson said, this is Traveller Pride Week. Many members of the Traveller community and many children within the Traveller community have fewer opportunities to be successful within Irish society. Last week, a study showed that young Travellers start off on a very good footing and it is all positivity when they go into primary education. However, by the end of primary school, they say they are not good enough to be in education. I know exactly what that feels like, namely not feeling good enough coming through the education system and not feeling good enough when applying for a job.

Yesterday, I was in Jobstown speaking to teachers about the yellow flag programme and talking about some of my experiences. I worked in a nursing home in Chapelizod for three weeks on work experience from Ballyfermot College. The manager told me there was a job going and that I would be absolutely brilliant for it. I put in my CV and as soon as they saw my address, that job was no longer going. When I first moved to Donegal, I put in for numerous jobs. My CV outlined the work I had done through the Irish Traveller Movement, Pavee Point and various women's organisations. Straight away, I was discriminated against. That is not too long ago. It is still happening today for members of the Travelling community. There are many Travellers working in our health system and in our education system as teachers and principals in schools. People are afraid or ashamed to express their identity because we have to do what we do to survive. To live in that state of shame in today's society is absolutely not acceptable.

I am looking for a debate and accountability from the Government for the failures in delivering in respect of Traveller accommodation, Traveller mental health, Traveller education, which is really important, and employment for members of the Traveller community. I know the committee has been set up and will meet tomorrow. I wish the Chairperson every success, and I look forward to being a passionate Vice Chairperson on that committee. I will be putting myself forward for Vice Chair. However, actions speak louder than words. We could wallpaper both Houses with legislation and policies that are meant to make Travellers' lives better. The problem lies with lack of implementation. I call for a debate in this House to allow for statements from everybody who takes part. I am very proud to see Senator Stephenson standing up in order that the pressure is not all on the members of the community.