Dear Members and Supporters,
I want to thank everyone within the movement for their support & participation locally and national in advancing Traveller human rights throughout 2018, and their work in national policy & campaigns.
This year, we launched a new TravellerHomesMatter campaign at the Irish Traveller Movement AGM Conference in Galway and clearly called for key changes to be made to advance Traveller Accommodation. We have also seen the establishment of the expert group to review the Traveller Accommodation Act 1998 and anticipate key recommendations to change this legislation in the first quarter of 2019.
We are proud to have supported the newly established Traveller Oireachtas Group, which we act as the secretarial for. We hope that our work through this group and elsewhere in Oireachtas will further advance policy and legislation. This work and progression made with bills such as the Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill wouldn’t have been possible without the political commitment from Cross-Party elected representatives. This work and progress is important in the context of building a new relationship with the wider community, built on respect, understanding, trust and equality based on who we are as a people.
The Irish Traveller Movement continues to seek solutions and innovative ways to address the many issues and challenges facing our people today through the Yellow Flag Programme, and our work with our membership, accommodation issues, anti-racism work and political advocacy.
I want to thank the Central group for their support and the incredible amount of work they put in to the Irish Traveller Movement this year, and every year. We’d like to thank everyone who supported our cause and stood with us throughout 2018.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Rosemarie Maughan who has taken leave in 2018 from the National Accommodation Worker post for her commitment and dedication to the Irish Traveller Movement. I’d like to welcome Timothy Hogan, our new National Traveller Accommodation and Policy Officer, and Sam Blanckensee, our new National Membership Officer.
We are so much more than just an organisation; we are a resilient movement, and passionate with self-belief. 2018 is again a testament to everyone involved within the Irish Traveller Movement. I feel very humbled and privileged to part of this strong vibrant movement.
We wish you all a very peaceful Christmas and many happy returns for 2019!
Bernard Joyce
Director, Irish Traveller Movement
|
|
|
|
The Irish Traveller Movement office will be closed from the 21st of December to the 6th of January. We look forward to working with you in 2019.
|
|
|
|
|
Comments are closed.