Travellers in Ireland: An Examination of Discrimination and Racism
A Report by John O'Connell
Preface
Preface by Anastasia Crickley, Chair of the National Co-ordinating Committee for the European Year Against Racism.
This report is a reminder, in this European Year Against Racism, of the current realities and long history of the racism experienced by Travellers in Ireland, and of the need for clear policies, procedures and legal frameworks through which it can be addressed. Quite clearly, as the report indicates, while there has been some encouraging progress, much remains to be done at all levels. The report was written by John O?Connell from Pavee Point and informed by a roundtable discussion organised by the National Committee for the European Year Against Racism as well as by ongoing discussions with National Committee members.
The report has also been compiled in preparation for the seminar on Responding to the Racism Experienced by Roma, Gypsies, and Travellers in the European Union, Leuven, Belgium, 17-19 January 1998. The purpose of the seminar is to develop proposals and actions for EU responses to the specific forces of racism experienced by Roma, Gypsies, and Travellers throughout the EU. The seminar, supported by DGV of the European Commission as a European activity in the framework of the European Year Against Racism, was organised by the Irish National Committee for the year in conjunction with other member states. A full report on the seminar will be available and will provide the basis for ongoing EU-level work towards responding to these issues.
Anastasia Crickley
Chairperson
National
Co-ordinating Committee, European Year Against Racism.
January
1998
Travellers are widely acknowledged as one of the most marginalised and disadvantaged groups in Irish society. Travellers fare poorly on every indicator used to measure disadvantage: unemployment, poverty, social exclusion, health status, infant mortality, life expectancy, illiteracy, education and training levels, access to decision making and political representation, gender equality, access to credit, accommodation and living conditions. It is not surprising therefore, that the Economic and Social Research Institute concluded that " ... the circumstances of the Irish Travelling people are intolerable. No humane and decent society, once made aware of such circumstances, could permit them to persist". (ESRI, July 1986, Paper no. 131). The ESRI also stated that Irish Travellers are "... a uniquely disadvantaged group: impoverished, under-educated, often despised and ostracised, they live on the margins of Irish society".
While there is a broad consensus on the low status, marginalisation and disadvantage of Travellers, there is far less agreement and much dissent when the issues of discrimination and especially racism are raised. In particular, there can be strong resistance by policy makers and others to the idea of a causal relationship between discrimination/racism and the poor living circumstances of Travellers (see, for example, McVeigh 1997 and Ryan 1996). This paper sets out to provide a framework for examining issues of discrimination and racism as well as the accuracy and relevancy of applying such terms to the situation of Travellers in Ireland. It begins by tracing the development of government policies in relation to Travellers and how these have evolved, assisted by internal and external influences. The paper will refer to the widespread tendency to deny the existence of racism despite evidence of a racialisation process in both media and political discourse. It also presents definitions and different approaches to racism, as well as examples of the specific manifestations of anti-Traveller discrimination. Finally, it will outline some possibilities and directions for tackling racism at national and European Union levels.
-Development of Policies at National Level