Newsletters
Newsletter contents:
Editorial (this page)
Pavee News
Travellers don't know their rights
Women Through the Century:
John O' Connell Remembered
New Videos
This issue of our newsletter highlights the experiences of Traveller women at the start of the Century. There have been huge changes for Traveller women within the space of a generation, as is illustrated in the piece about the life of Biddy Doyle. Her first children were born in a tent at the side of the road, but she attended hospital for the later births. She lived in a range of accommodation throughout her life - house, tent, barrel-top trailer and a house. She moved from a rural area to live in the city. She engaged in a range of economic activities over her lifetime. Her house-calls illustrate the nature of 'call-backs' and the relationships that develop between Traveller women and settled women over the years. They also highlight the concern that many Travellers have in relation to the potential criminalisation of this activity through the proposed Children's Bill (1999).
The articles on Traveller women illustrate many positive changes for the Traveller community in recent years. However, they also highlight the work and challenges that remain - in particular the lack of progress in providing Traveller accommodation. This has a huge impact on Traveller women who, like all women, shoulder the main responsibility for child rearing and household work. Bad living conditions impact on Traveller health status, infant mortality rates and access to a range of services.
The first annual report of the National Consultative Committee on Traveller Accommodation makes sober reading. Despite the Task Force on the Travelling Community (July 1995), identifying the need for 3,100 units of accommodation by the year 2000, and a Government commitment to accommodating all Travellers by the year 2000, this report details very slow progress. Only 127 new units of accommodation have been provided throughout the country since that time.
Pavee Point welcomes the Equal Status Act and looks forward to it being implemented. The Equality infrastructure that has been put in place is also welcomed. Niall Crowley highlights the role of the new Equality Authority and the role it can play in furthering equality for Travellers. We also welcome the recent commitment of the Government to ratify the UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by the end of the year. Ireland is the only state in Europe which has not ratified this Convention - which we signed up to in . The challenge to Traveller organisations will be to disseminate information on these initiatives so as Travellers can exercise their rights.
The past year has been a very sad and challenging time for Pavee Point. John O' Connell, Director of Pavee Point 1985-1998, died last November and is missed - not only within Traveller politics but also within the wider community movement in Ireland and at European levels. John made a valuable contribution to the development and growth of Pavee Point and his legacy is an organisation that is strong and robust and will continue to grow and address the challenges Travellers and Roma face in Ireland. -
Ronnie Fay, Director, Pavee Point.