EAPN Press Release
27th July
Minister's comments on Pavee Point 'disappointing', says European Anti Poverty Network
The European Anti Poverty Network (Ireland) has expressed its support for the role played by Pavee Point in the recent humanitarian crisis involving a number of Roma families living beside the M50 in Ballymun. Describing their work as being 'essential to a resolution of the matter' and in 'bringing to a wider audience an awareness of the discrimination and inequality faced by Roma in Romania and across Europe' Acting EAPN Co-ordinator Paul Ginnell described comments by Minister Lenihan yesterday criticising Pavee Point as 'unfortunate'.
Acting Co-ordinator Paul Ginnell said: "Our organisation was one of a number of anti-poverty and human rights ngos that signed a statement calling on the authorities to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to the Roma families living alongside the M50 roundabout. That they were left for so long in such squalid conditions with only limited support from local statutory authorities is an indictment of the government's inaction in this area.
"We commend the role played by Pavee Point and the Roma Support Group in ensuring that the plight of these people was highlighted in the national media and we believe that their efforts were essential to a resolution of the matter. Their work was also important in bringing to an Irish audience a greater awareness of the discrimination and inequality faced by Roma in Romania and across Europe.
"The comments by Minister Lenihan yesterday are unfortunate in that he seems to imply that state funding for organisations which question or criticise aspects of government policy can be brought into question. According to media reports he has refused to say whether Pavee Point's funding is at risk and we would call on him to clarify the position."
CRÍOCH
For further details, contact Justin Moran on 01-8745737
Further information:
- Opportunity for Ireland to Promote Human Rights Should Not be Missed - Crosscare
- Irish Traveller Movement supports Pavee Point in its role in highlighting humanitarian crisis of Roma at M50
- 26 July 2007 - Pavee Point Statement
- Statement from ATD Fourth World
- 24 July 2007 - Press Release: Roma Repatriation
- Romani CRISS reports and Photographs
- Statement by the Children's Rights Alliance: Roma Crisis
- 24 July 2007 - Point of clarification
- 23 July 2007 - Pavee Point rejects accusations of the Embassy of Romania in Ireland
- 23 July 2007 - Press Release: Response to the Statement from the Romanian Embassy
- 21 July 2007 - Press Release: Deportation Notices an Inadequate Response to Roma Crisis
- Press release: Inhumane Living Conditions in Ireland- Not Acceptable, Action Demanded Now.
- Press Release June 07: Pavee Point and the Roma Support Group calls on Government to offer humane support to Roma Families camping on roundabout.
- Case Study: Rostas Family
- Statement from Anastasia Crickley of the the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)
- Social Workers call for action to reunite children with parents. Press release from the Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW)
- Social Workers call for government action on Roma family crisis in North Dublin
- Photographs from the scene at the Ballymun Roundabout
- Background context report by ERRC, Romania: State of Impunity Human Rights Abuse of Roma in Romania (PDF)
- Extract from Council of Europe/European Commission against Racism and Intolerence: Third Report on Roma (PDF)
- Campaign Support: How to support the Roma