Between September 2019 and July 2021, a Joint Oireachtas Committee on Key Issues Affecting Travellers met to discuss the issues of Mental Health, Health, Education, Employment, and Accommodation.
Due to the dissolution of the Dáil and Seanad in early 2020 the final issue of Accommodation was not discussed until early 2021, when the Joint Committee was resumed.
The Committee was chaired by Senator Collette Kelleher initially, and went on to be chaired by Senator Eileen Flynn, when the Committee resumed its business under the 33rd Dáil / 26th Seanad.
Topics
- Mental Health
- Health
- Education
- Employment
- Accommodation
ITM Submissions
Mental Health
The committee held sittings discussing Traveller Mental Health on:
- 24th September 2019
- 8th October 2019
- 15th October 2019
24th September 2019
Present: Joan Collins, Lynn Ruane, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Fintan Warfield, Gino Kenny, Fiona O’Loughlin.
Colette Kelleher in the Chair.
Speakers: Martin Reilly, Bernard Joyce, Bridgid Qulligan, Minnie Connors, Patrick Reilly
Click here to view the Transcript
Opening Statements:
- National Traveller Mental Health Network
- Irish Traveller Movement
- Kerry Traveller Health Community Development Project
- Pavee Point
8th October 2019
Joan Collins, Paudie Coffey, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Lynn Ruane, Martin Ferris, Gino Kenny, Éamon Ó Cuív, Deputy Pat Buckley
Colette Kelleher in the Chair.
Speakers: Thomas McCann, Niamh Keating, Sandra McDonagh, Bridget Kelly, Maria Carnicer
Click here to view the Transcript
Opening Statements:
- Traveller Counselling Service
- West Limerick Primary Healthcare Project
- Offaly Traveller Movement
- Galway Traveller Movement
- Exchange House Ireland
Video
15th October 2019
Joan Collins, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Fintan Warfield
Colette Kelleher in the Chair.
Speakers: Deputy Jim Daly, Senator Joan Freeman, Kate Mitchell, Dr. Brian Keogh, Dr. Aileen Tierney, John Meehan, Dr. David Maguire, Dr. Siobhán Ní Bhriain
Click here to read the Transcript
Video
Health
The committee held sittings discussing Traveller Mental Health on:
22nd October 2019
Éamon Ó Cuív. Paudie Coffey, Lynn Ruane, Fintan Warfield
Colette Kelleher in the Chair.
Speakers: Kathleen Sherlock, Brigid Quirke, Maria Joyce, Nora Mooney, Missie Collins, Jim Walsh
Opening Statements:
- Minceir Whiden
- Pavee Point Primary Healthcare Project
- Pavee Point
- National Traveller Women’s Forum
- Department of Health
- Kilmallock Traveller Women’s Group
5th November 2019
Joan Collins, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Lynn Ruane, Gino Kenny, Fintan Warfield, Fiona O’Loughlin, Éamon Ó Cuív.
Colette Kelleher in the Chair.
Speakers: Breda O’Donoghue, Siobhán McArdle, Dr. Mary Favier, Concepta de Brun, Deirdre O’Reilly, Dr. Tony Cox
Education
The committee held sittings discussing Traveller Education on:
12th November 2019
Joan Collins, Paudie Coffey, Gino Kenny, Fintan Warfield, Éamon Ó Cuív.
Lynne Ruane in the Vice-Chair.
Speakers: Patrick Nevin, Eileen Flynn, Maria Joyce, Catherine Joyce.
19th November 2019
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Lynn Ruane, Gino Kenny, Éamon Ó Cuív, Pippa Hackett.
Collette Kelleher in the Chair.
Speakers: Shreya Chaturvedi, Oein de Bhairdúin, Martin Collins, Bernard Joyce.
Opening Statements:
26th November 2019
Joan Collins, Lynn Ruane, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Martin Ferris, Éamon Ó Cuív.
Collette Kelleher in the Chair.
Speakers: Dr. Teresa O’Doherty, Deputy Jan O’Sullivan, Patrick McDonagh
Opening Statements:
3rd December 2019
Joan Collins, Paudie Coffey, Martin Ferris, Lynn Ruane, Gino Kenny, Fintan Warfield, Fiona O’Loughlin.
Collette Kelleher in the Chair.
Speakers: Enda Hughes, Tara Farrell, Cathleen McDonagh Clark, Caitríona Ryan, Inez Bailey, Brian Melia, Patricia Sheehan, Deputy Joe McHugh, Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor
Opening Statements
- Aontas
- Department of Education and Skills
- Higher Education Authority
- Education and Training Boards Ireland
- Minister for Education Joe McHugh
- NALA
Traveller Employment
The committee held sittings discussing Traveller Education on:
10th December 2019
Joan Collins, Lynn Ruane, Eamon O’Cuiv, Gino Kenny, Fiona O’Loughlin.
Colette Kelleher in the Chair.
Speakers: Patrick Reilly, Kathleen Sherlock, TJ Hogan, Sinead Burke, James O’Leary, Michael Power, Dr Sheila Canon, Dr Mary Murphy
Opening Statements:
17th December 2021
Joan Collins, Lynn Ruane, Jennifer Murnane, Gino Kenny, Fintan Warfield and Marcella Corcoran Kennedy
Colette Kelleher in the Chair.
Speakers: Bernard Joyce, Hugh Friel, Joanna Corcoran, Doreen Carpenter, Brigid Quilligan, Michael McCarthy, Kyle Quill and Oein DeBhairduin.