Category: News

The first joint meeting of the Collaborative Platform on Social and Economic Rights and the Operational Platform for Roma Equality took place this week at the initiative of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The meeting was aimed to look at the protection of the rights to accommodation of Travellers and the rights to housing […]

Great to have Ann O’ Shea, Head of Service Primary Care, HSE at Pavee Point this week. Ms. O Shea met with Traveller Community Healthcare Workers and heard how important it is to protect and resource Traveller Health Units and Traveller Primary Health Care Projects. ‘It’s at this level we find out about the emerging […]

‘Travellers, whose suicide rates continue to be unacceptably high, deserve an urgent intervention from the State’ – the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Mental Health Care said in its interim report last month. (Photos by Derek Speirs) Today at Pavee Point we hosted Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Jim Daly, TD […]

Maynooth University today confers 24 men and women from Traveller and Roma communities across Ireland as graduates of its Community Work in a Changing Ireland Level 7 Certificate programme. (Photos by Derek Speirs) Speaking at the ceremony Anastasia Crickley from the Department of Applied Social Studies commented: “In a context where fewer than 13% of […]

The Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Mental Health has acknowledged the mental health crisis in the Travelling community and has called for action. “It is clear … that there is a mental health crisis in the Travelling community, and that the design and delivery of mental health services are failing Travellers, much more so […]

Human rights experts today warned that urgent action is needed to combat increasing racism and especially the extreme racism against Travellers and Roma. Photos by Derek Speirs. The experts, representing EU agencies, the United Nations, academics and community activists were speaking at a seminar in Dublin Castle today – ‘Bringing Human Rights Home’. URGENT ACTION […]

Pavee Point’s Primary Health Care workers spent this week at the Abbey Theatre developing the inspiring story of their work through drama, story and song. (Photos by Derek Speirs) This was a great opportunity to bring to life the struggles involved in being part of a project that has changed the face of healthcare for […]

Transformative change has taken place in the last 30 years to enable this week’s celebration of the recognition of  Traveller ethnicity at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, said Martin Collins at yesterday’s ethnicity event. “Have pride in how far we have come, have faith in how far we can go,” he urged the hundreds who visited. President […]

We were delighted to welcome Pat McNally, Irish Traveller from North Augusta, South Carolina to Pavee Point today as part of his visit for the  Traveller Ethnicity Celebration.  Mr. McNally spoke eloquently of the achievements and challenges facing his community in North Augusta, South Carolina.  He spoke of the importance of education for the future […]

This week national Traveller organisations presented to a meeting of the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government where the Minister for Housing Damien English, TD was in attendance.  Martin Collins spoke on our behalf outlining some of the critical issues on Traveller accommodation.  For more info see here.

Traveller and Roma woman are celebrating International Women’s Day with important messages.

We were delighted to host the new Slovak Ambassador here at Pavee Point this week. Mr. Igor Pokojny came on a fact finding mission regarding Roma in Ireland. The Embassy estimates there are between 20,000 to 25,000 Slovaks in Ireland.  In the Slovak Republic, Roma make up 20% of the general population. We look forward […]

A low grade, D+ , is awarded to ‘Traveller and Roma Children’ in this year’s Children’s Rigths Alliance annual Report Card. This improvement on last year’s grade is due to the Government’s recognition of Traveller ethnicity and the publication of the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy. Yet Traveller children leave school on average 5 years […]

‘When you hear of young Travellers committing suicide, you make no wonder of it anymore. We can do better for Travellers,’ Patrick Reilly, Pavee Point Mental Health Worker. Pavee Point made its presentation to the Joint Committee on the Future of Mental Health Care today.  In our submission we conclude that an urgent response and positive action is […]

Thanks to Voice and our Recycling Ambassador Triona Reid for bringing us up to date on the most recent do’s and don’ts of recycling.  Their free Recycling Workshop for community groups cleared up a lot of confusion about what you can put in your Green Bin.  And we got to explain how many Travellers living […]

In April 2018, a national seminar was held to mark International Traveller and Roma Day. This seminar provided a space for dialogue between Traveller and Roma leaders, policy-makers and other human rights experts. The key message from the day was that discrimination and racism towards Travellers and Roma is endemic, and can be seen in unequal […]

An informal roundtable took place with Deputy UN Higher Commissioner for Human Rights, Kate Gilmore this week at Pavee Point.  This was a great opportunity to engage with civil society during a short visit to Ireland. Commissioner Gilmore heard from a variety of organisations working in the area of women and children’s rights as well […]

Photos by Derek Speirs. On Wednesday 20th December we held our Christmas party for Roma children.  About 100 children and their parents came and made it a real family occasion.   Thanks to everyone who donated presents to make this such a happy occasion and a special thanks to Hamleys Toyshop, Dundrum and also for […]

14th December 2017   The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (the “Commission”) has welcomed a settlement secured in a case of members of the Traveller community denied service in a licensed premises. The individuals involved applied jointly to the District Court for redress under the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2003 with legal representation provided to […]