Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland continue to be subjected to “discrimination, prejudice and institutional racism”, that’s according to the Council of Europe’s expert group on national minorities.
Whilst Irish society overall shows “respect for diversity and sensitivity to intersectionality”, that generally positive atmosphere clashes with “attitudes of the majority population towards persons belonging to the Traveller and Roma communities who still suffer from various forms of discrimination, prejudice and institutional racism in public institutions and private companies”, the Council of Europe says.
The comments are contained in a report written last year, but only published today.
“Persons belonging to the Traveller community are 22 times more likely to experience discrimination in shops, pubs and restaurants than the rest of the Irish population”, the Council of Europe says.
Amongst the criticisms of the government are delays to equality legislation, the failure of a strategy for Traveller and Roma communities, and poor education, housing and job opportunities.
“An ongoing review of the Equality Acts and the impending adoption of a National Equality Data Strategy by the government are commendable steps towards the promotion of equality but delays in their adoption are a matter of concern.”
The Programme for Government includes only a very short paragraph on equality promising that the “government will continue to drive progress and reform, ensuring Ireland is an inclusive and accepting country”.
Amongst other things, the Council of Europe report urges the government to ensure that the communities are referred to properly at all levels of the state.
“The use of standardised “ethnic identifiers” for persons belonging to the Traveller and Roma communities needs to be extended to all state departments and public administration”, the report says.
Despite putting in place a National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy, the Council of Europe says that it proved to be a “disappointment” due to a “lack of action”. It’s hoped a new strategy will do better.
“The Travellers and Roma rightly demanded the right to review the draft successor strategy before its adoption to ascertain the inclusion of a stronger outcomes-focused approach and a transparent reporting and implementation structure, with achievable actions, clear performance indicators and a robust monitoring mechanism.”
When it comes to recognising Traveller and Roma communities culture, the experts welcomed “cultural activities, such as the Traveller Pride Week and the International Roma day”, but expressed concern about the every day lives for people in these communities.
“Culturally appropriate accommodation for persons belonging to the Traveller community remains a major issue, resulting in further poverty, marginalisation and social exclusion…efforts have been made to improve access to education of Traveller and Roma children, particularly in the primary and the post-primary levels. Bullying, illiteracy and poor living conditions remain, however, long-standing challenges which need to be addressed.”
Accommodation for the Traveller community remains a touchstone issue.
The Council of Europe says that the Traveller community has, for years, urged that the government take control of the issue away from local authorities to ensure a more co-ordinated and equitable approach nationwide.
Regrettably, these issues remain unaddressed.”
The experts welcomed the National Action Plan Against Racism adopted in 2023, but said that it needed to be tailored to “the specific form of anti-Traveller and anti-Roma racism, as well as be coupled with dedicated funding.
Racist incidents against Travellers and Roma are significantly under-reported.”
The report was handed to the government before it was published. A detailed line-by-line response by the government runs to some 25 pages.
“The Irish Government recognises that Travellers and Roma remain amongst the most marginalised and discriminated groups in Ireland.
“Both communities continue to face disadvantage, discrimination, and inequalities across a range of indicators, including employment, health, accommodation, and education.
The Irish Government is conscious of the vulnerability of the Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland and the need for targeted responses to address the issues and barriers they face.”
The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities is an expert group within the Council of Europe. It is composed of 18 independent experts elected and appointed for four years.
Its authority falls under the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities which Ireland signed up to in 1999.
Ireland has been a member country of the Council of Europe since its foundation in 1949. The Council of Europe is an inter-governmental organisation based in Strasbourg with 46 members.