Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 November 2012
482. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of Ireland's seat on the UN Human Rights Council, when he plans to grant Irish Travellers ethnic status in recognition of their human rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51492/12]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 39341/12 of 19 September 2012. Since then a conference on the area of ethnicity took place on 27 September organised by the National Traveller Monitoring and Advisory Committee and with the support and funding of my Department. At this conference various aspects of the ethnicity subject were considered from a wide spectrum of opinion. Consideration of the question remains ongoing with a view to ensuring that full analysis of all aspects of the granting of ethnic status to Travellers is available to Government when coming to a decision on the matter.
