An Oireachtas Committee has published a report calling on the Taoiseach to make a statement to the Dáil recognising traveller ethnicity. The Justice Committee wants the government to fully recognise the ethnic status of the travelling community and inform the international community that it is doing so.
If the change goes ahead, the Committee wants the government to engage with traveller representatives to make sure that any changes to legislation are fully discussed.
The report makes a number of observations and recommendations on how the issue can be moved forward at State level. It also recommends the government commence "a time-limited dialogue" with the traveller representative groups about how to proceed.
The Committee report also concluded that there was overwhelming evidence in favour of traveller ethnicity - provided at oral hearings and on visiting traveller centres - and that that the rationale for ethnicity denial by the State were found to be unsustainable.
The Irish Traveller Movement (ITM) welcomed the report and say they are hopeful it will be prioritised by the Minster for Justice "especially so in anticipation of Ireland's appearance before the Human Rights Committee ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) in Geneva in July 2014 examining progress on the matter of ethnicity recognition" it said.
ITM Director Brigid Quilligan said "Today's report consolidates more firmly the importance of acknowledging Travellers outstanding human, legal and cultural rights both the critical and the symbolic. Recognition by the State of our unique ethnicity is at the heart of how we might become more equal".
Sinn Fein TD Padraig MacLochlainn is the author of the report.
He says the Justice Committee was fully behind it, and that a speech from the Taoiseach would be a major step.
