Press Release November 2007
Launch of Toolkit to improve employment opportunities for Travellers in the HSE
Traveller Health Unit
Press Invite
As part of Anti Racism Workplace Week 2007 the Traveller Health Unit in the Eastern Region will launch the report, “Toolkit and Guidelines for the Employment of Travellers in the HSE” at 11am on Wednesday 7th November.
Venue: The Equality Authority, Clonmel Street, Dublin 2.
Formal Launch: Niall Crowley, Director, Equality Authority.
The Toolkit is a practical guide to assist the HSE in implementing positive action measures to promote employment and progression opportunities for Travellers. While the report is focused on the HSE the learning documented has the potential to improve employment and further training outcomes for Travellers across the country in a range of settings.
“The HSE, as the largest employer in the State, has the potential to recruit Travellers to a range of mainstream employment positions. The report, carried out by Tanya Lalor TSA, was to identify a series of good practice guidelines that could be put in place in order to maximise the employment of Travellers in the HSE,” says THU Chairperson, Fergal Black.
“The report offers practical advice drawing on a range of developments with Travellers and good practice developed with other sectors including people with a disability and minority ethnic groups.”
Martin Collins, Assistant Director Pavee Point says “We welcome the publication of this Toolkit. The report is a challenge to both employers in the public sector and to Travellers - a challenge for the public sector to ensure that Travellers have employment opportunities and a challenge to Travellers to be assertive and ambitious in taking up employment opportunities”.
“We must remember being a Traveller is not a limitation. It is society’s discriminatory attitude towards Travellers that imposes limitations on Travellers. It’s important that we Travellers don’t lost sight of that. This Report is a very valuable contribution in developing our understanding and knowledge-base regarding employment opportunities. It is vital that we all work together collectively to ensure that the recommendations in the report are fully embraced by everybody,” says Martin Collins. ENDS
A full copy of the Report and its findings will be available to download from www.paveepoint.ie from 11.00am, 7th November.
Terry Battles
Information Coordinator,
Pavee Point Travellers Centre,
46 North Great Charles St.,
Dublin 1
Ph: 01 8780255