Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 6

Written Answers. - Task Force on the Travelling Community.

Seamus Brennan

Ceist:

63 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the reason no representative of a residents association was appointed to the Task Force on the Travelling Community; his views on whether the lack of such a representative has the capacity to create an imbalance in any recommendations made; the way in which the members of this task force were chosen or appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11972/96]

Minister for Equality and Law Reform (Mr. Taylor)

The composition of the Task Force on the Travelling Community was decided on the basis specified in the Programme for a Partnership Government 1993-97. It was chaired by a Member of the Houses of the Oireachtas and membership was comprised of a broad range of interests which included, inter alia, traveller representatives, persons from the voluntary sector and elected local representatives nominated by their respective political parties.

The elected representatives brought to the task force a specialist knowledge of local matters which was of particular relevance to the work of the task force. Because of their ongoing involvement in local affairs. I am satisfied that they were capable of adequately reflecting the views of people generally in the matters under consideration, including the variety of views on traveller related matters held or expressed by resident and tenant associations.