New report criticises prejudices towards Irish travellers
Echoing concerns articulated by a Celtic League report twenty years ago (Human Rights on the Celtic Fringe) a new hard-hitting report has said the failure of Irish society to emancipate Irish Travellers must rank as one of the most serious social embarrassments since the establishment of the State.
The report sets out a range of steps which can be implemented to reverse the current situation calling for initiatives on accomodation, job opportunities and social health improvements to increase the life expectancy of travellers which is currently lower than the settled community.
The author of « Emancipation of the Travelling People: A Report on the Attitudes and Prejudices of the Irish People towards the Travellers Based on a National Social Survey 2007-2008 », Fr Micheál Mac Gréil, said that statistics in the report «confirms the appalling plight of this native Irish minority.»
Earlier this year the Celtic League called on the European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Lazlo Andor, to initiate positive action to address discrimination against the Roma and Irish Traveller community in the British Isles (related links below):
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League
08/07/10
■