I will outline briefly the national Traveller-Roma integration strategy as it stands, the gaps we see in it and some of the recommendations for change. I will also outline the recommendations we have for this committee.
We saw the EU framework document as a huge opportunity. It is commendable that the Commission has taken on the job of driving an integrated and co-ordinated Roma policy to address the widespread discrimination Roma people face throughout the European Union. In the original framework document, the Commission has stated that the member state strategies must outline key targets in four areas - health, education, accommodation and employment. Along with the targets, they must have clear funding streams so that the targets can be implemented. The Commission has also stated that in the case of Ireland, both Roma and Travellers must be key in the design and implementation of the strategy. Therefore, they must be involved in its development and implementation.
The Commission speaks of the common basic principles and Roma inclusion and stresses the principles of active participation and gender equality and the need to use evidence-based policies. Therefore, each strategy must ensure that these factors are taken into account. The Government submitted its Irish national Traveller-Roma integration strategy to the EU Commission in January of this year. While we acknowledge the work put into developing the strategy, there are significant gaps in it and that it contravenes the Commission's explicit instructions on what a strategy should contain. The document itself sets out the strategies that are already in place for Travellers in Ireland. It does not address the gaps in these policies or their lack of implementation. In a sense then, it is a paper exercise. As there is a lack of policy relating to Roma in Ireland, this group is excluded from the document. There are some cursory references to Roma but there is nothing approaching a strategy.
The document does not contain goals, targets, indicators, timeframes or monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and therefore lacks teeth. It does not have sufficient substance. There was no meaningful consultation or facilitation of active participation of Travellers or Roma in the development of the document.
The European Commission has assessed the strategy documents from all member states and has found them to be unsatisfactory, across the board. There are enormous problems with them, which is disappointing and represents a lost opportunity. The European Roma Policy Coalition, commenting on the matter, has stated:
The European Commission's assessment of the strategies reveals many of them to be so deeply flawed that they cannot even be regarded as a first step forward. They reflect a complete lack of political will. Such complacency is neither acceptable nor sustainable.
We would endorse that statement. However, in the Irish context, we do regard the document as a starting point.
We recommend that the relevant stakeholders, namely, the Department, Pavee Point and other civil society organisations, Roma and Travellers work together to revise the document and bring it up to the standard set by the EU Commission. That means that we set achievable goals and targets with clearly defined funding streams alongside the targets as well as strong monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. It would be good to have a monitoring and evaluation mechanism that allows for elected representatives to be part of the process. Strong accountability is also very important.
We believe it is a time to be ambitious as a country. Ireland will assume the EU presidency shortly and we must show leadership in the EU arena. We are set up to produce a really good strategy. We have a network of Traveller organisations across the country. Pavee Point and other organisations have links with Roma communities. We can create a really inclusive, progressive strategy that could be a model of good practice. Unfortunately, we are not there yet but Pavee Point is certainly on board in terms of improving the document.
We request that this committee conducts an inquiry into the development of the national Traveller-Roma integration strategy and that the Department of Justice and Equality makes a presentation on its approach to developing the strategy. We also request that this committee commissions research into the situation of Roma in Ireland in the context of EU migration. It was good to see in the committee's last report, the level of work that went into establishing the issues facing Roma. That report also noted the lack of reliable statistics and documentation on Roma in Ireland, which is still the case. Senator Leyden has pointed out that we do not even have a good sense of how many members of the Roma community are in Ireland. It is difficult to design policy if we do not even know how many Roma are here and where they are. It would be a positive development for this committee to push this issue forward.
We also request that a committee member makes a proposal for a motion stating that this issue be placed on the Order of Business in both Houses of the Oireachtas in order to widen the discussion and to make Members of both Houses aware of the issues.
As part of Ireland's EU Presidency, we ask that this committee highlight Roma issues and makes them a priority. As an organisation, Pavee Point has good links with civil society organisations throughout Europe so if committee members are interested in conducting country visits to get a sense of the situation for Roma throughout the EU, we would be more than happy to facilitate that.
I thank the committee for its time and welcome any questions members may have.