Pavee Point Welcomes Traveller Ethnicity move
Immediate Release
06 October 2011

Filed from Geneva, CH

Pavee Point has welcomed an indication given at Ireland’s Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights hearing this morning in Geneva that consideration is being given by the Irish government to the recognition of Travellers as a minority ethnic group.

The indication, given by Minister for Justice and Equality Alan Shatter TD, is the most solid indication so far that the Irish government’s approach to Travellers may be changing.

Ronnie Fay, Pavee Point co-director, said:

“Pavee Point welcomes this development, having have been campaigning on this issue for many years. Under the previous government, Ireland’s non-recognition of the community as a group with ethnic status was a source of embarrassment to the State, with ministers and officials questioned repeatedly at the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination and the UN Human Rights Committee.  We look forward to engaging with the state to achieve the recognition of the community as an ethnic minority group, and tackling the issues which need to be resolved to make that a reality.”

The Irish delegate to CERD, Anastasia Crickley, has warmly welcomed the indication by the Minister that the recgnition of Travellers ethnic status is being considered, as previously recommended by UN bodies, including CERD itself, and looks forward to a speedy resolution of this issue.

ENDS