ITM members and the BAI
ITM held a training webinar for its members on 16th February in collaboration with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), about their complaints process. One of the key functions of the BAI is to enforce compliance of the licensed broadcasters with the broadcasting codes and rules as well as managing complaints regarding broadcast content on all Irish broadcasting services.
You can watch back the presentation of the session here
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Strategic Planning
ITM is developing a new strategic plan in partnership with our central group, staff and members. We're delighted to have former Senator Colette Kelleher and Kathleen O'Meara supporting us with this work. We will be reaching out to members as the process develops and seeking your input as we work to map out a collective plan and objectives for the years ahead. This is a significant and important time for the movement. We are currently setting up an Appreciative Inquiry group and have written to those members who will provide critical analysis in supporting the Irish Traveller Movement.
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Accommodation Working Group
The Accommodation Working Group met on the 17th of February. We will be meeting again on Thursday the 24th of March, hopefully in person, for a half day planning session. More details to follow! Get in touch with Emily and Rose Marie if you'd like to attend accommodation@itmtrav.ie
The Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) Midterm Review process has been delayed as the Department of Housing is working to improve the process. ITM wrote a submission on this following consultation with members in November. See submission here. The next meeting of the NTACC on the 23rd of March will focus solely on this.
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Housing and Homelessness Law training
The ITM and Community Law and Meditation Housing and Homelessness Law training in January was a success.
"Very well facilitated and presented. I found the explanations and discussions really useful. Thanks to ITM, and particularly Siobhan for two insightful days"
-Training Participant
Keep an eye out for future training opportunities coming soon!
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Supreme Court Ruling on Traveller Evictions
The Irish Traveller Movement note the important judgment of the Supreme Court at the end of January in a case taken by a family living on an unauthorised site and facing eviction in County Clare, which can now be referred to for other Travellers facing eviction and seeking Traveller specific accommodation with no alternative accommodation offered by a Council.
Homelessness in the Southwest
The Cork and Kerry Regional Accommodation Working Group launched an excellent report last month called Traveller Homelessness in the Southwest, highlighting the extent of both hidden homelessness and registered homelessness in the region. A webinar on the report's findings can be viewed here
Meeting with Minister O'Gorman
A delegation of local and national Traveller organisations and the Children's Rights Alliance met Minister Roderic O'Gorman which disucssed issues including Traveller accommodation and the implementation of the 'No End in Site' recommendations. A key outcome from this meeting was the confirmation of a focus on Traveller children and young people in the national action plan on child poverty. Child poverty will be a key strand of the next national children’s strategy. The Minister also highlighted the anticipated Traveller Education Strategy and in particular his Department’s work on that in terms of early years and the low uptake of the ECCE programme by Traveller children. A key focus on the next NTRIS Meeting will be Traveller Accommodation.
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Information session: Reduced School Days
ITM facilitated local and national organisations to come together with staff from TUSLA Education Support Services (TESS) for an informative session on the new guidelines for reduced school days.
The new guidelines came into effect on January 1st and change the way in which schools notify and implement reduced school days for students, which is a significant step towards tackling the misuse of this practice.
There is an information notice for parents and guardians which explains clearly what these new guidelines mean - Click here
If you have concerns about reduced school days or any queries about the new guidelines, please reach out ITM at membership@itmtrav.ie
The Children's Rights Alliance are holding a Know Your Rights Information Event on Reduced Timetables on 15th March. You can sign up HERE
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Education Working Group
The next Education Working Group meeting is on 22nd February at 11am. Get in touch with Eve if you would like to attend membership@itmtrav.ie
Third Level Scholarships for Mature Students
Uversity’s Scholarships are now open for adult learners who wish to complete a Bachelor’s (Ordinary or Higher) Degree for the first time.
The Scholarships give financial support and programming throughout the course of the degree. There are two levels of financial support available depending on whether or not the successful candidate has dependent children: €5,000 (no dependent children)/ €7,000 (dependent children).
Scholarships are awarded based on online written application, successful interview and on demonstrated financial need. You can check if you are eligible here
Closing date for applications: 25th March
More information: https://www.uversity.org/the-scholarships/
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IHREC Strategy 2022 -2024
ITM made a submission to the IHREC consultation to their 2022 -2024 Strategy and welcomed its publication this month. ITM recommendations focused on legal access for Travellers, the lack of adequate accommodation and evictions, the need for a focus on discrimination in policy practices in education and private services. The need for ethnic equality monitoring, representation in media and lack of inclusion in national strategies and data impact monitoring. Also, a closer engagement with the community in policy consultation, and a reflection of Travellers in its workforce.
ITM noted the recommendations in the IHREC strategy to
- Conduct and publish a detailed examination of racism against Travellers and Roma. Seek improved collection and dissemination of disaggregated data by the State. Propose a framework for the examination of institutional racism in a public body. Strengthen equality legislation, including through participation in the Government review process, and increase awareness of rights under equality law.
- Broaden access to legal aid. Assist and enable people to vindicate their rights in the Workplace Relations Commission and the Courts. Address legislative gaps such as hate crime, spent convictions and racial profiling
- Also, how it will; Influence policy and expenditure on appropriate and adequate housing that responds to the needs of specific groups, and take legal cases that vindicate the right to housing
- And, Partner with civil society bodies to communicate case studies of examination of racism against Travellers racism, ableism, ageism and sexism education and other settings
The full report is available here : https://www.ihrec.ie/app/uploads/2022/02/IHREC_StrategyStatement_FA-v2.pdf
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Hate Crime Legislation
We attended the final act of the #LoveNotHate campaign this month at Leinster House, where the 15,000 signatory petition was handed in to Minister Helen McEntee. ITM are members of the Coalition Against Hate Crime and has supported the campaign over the years, which calls for the introduction of Hate Crime legislation in Ireland.
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Universal Periodic Review
The Report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review was published on Feb 9th and State accepted over 200 recommendations arising from the review, 17 in relation to Travellers & Roma and a range of others in the areas of anti-discrimination, legal aid with a direct positive impact for Travellers. The Irish Traveller Movement made a “Stakeholder Submission” to the UPR directly and to the consultation held by the Department of Disability, Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth along with several ITM member groups.
Traveller related recommendations accepted by Ireland fell under the the following areas: NTRIS, Discrimination, accommodation and housing, education and employment, intersectional inclusion, civil legal aid, and media.
The full Report is here: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/WG.6/39/IRL/3
Section 19 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act
The Irish Traveller Movement has advocated for a review of section 19 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act since its introduction in 2003 due to concerns for Travellers challenging discrimination at the point of entry to licensed premises who were then required to take cases to the District Court.
The ITM consulted on the matter again with IHREC in 2019, and the inclusion in human rights treaty body reporting and a focus by the FLAC, Traveller groups along with other legal interests augmented the call for legislative review.
In 2021 ITM made a submission on the matter to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice towards their consultation on ‘Minorities engaging with the Justice System’, to the National Action Plan Against Racism, and under the Ministerial review of the Equal Status Acts.
It is hoped with the IHREC review published on Feb 14th, concluding a greater impact for Travellers and a call for Minister for Equality to make statutory amendment to section 19, this will make the changes necessary for amendment and bring discrimination cases currently taken to the District Court to the Workplace Relations Commission WRC.
Review here https://www.ihrec.ie/app/uploads/2022/02/Review-of-the-Intoxicating-Liquor-Act-pursuant-to-section-30-of-the-IHREC-Act-Final.pdf
Oireachtas Forum on Family Friendly Parliament
In May 2021, ITM made a submission to the Oireachtas Forum on Family Friendly Parliament established by Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD to make the Houses of the Oireachtas a more inclusive, family friendly and gender sensitive workplace. The full report of the Forum is here
Many of the recommendations ITM made were included amongst the 51 in the final report, and the following are notable for Travellers:
- Amendment of the Electoral Act, to allow for an ethnic minority quota, undertaken in consultation with affected groups.
- That Political Parties in the next General Election will set targets for ethnic minority women within their “gender quotas” and set specific quotas for Traveller Women’s participation.
- Establish quotas for Traveller and Roma women in formal political structures with specific seats reserved in the Dáil, Seanad, Constitutional Convention and on Local Councils.
- Training and mentoring to be provided for women who face the greatest barriers to participation in elections, including Traveller and Roma women, women with disabilities, migrant women, LGBTQI+ women, women in poverty, women parenting alone and women in rural areas.
Representation and Inclusion:
- Through the Taoiseach’s 11 nominees, representatives from ethnic minority communities to be appointed to the Seanad.
- Political parties to set targets for ethnic minority representation. If there is no progress following the next electoral cycle, legislation on ethnic minority targets to be developed in consultation with affected groups and devised in a way which does not in its ultimate design exclude groups.
- Encourage under-represented groups to become active in politics and stand for election at all levels. Undertake a review of barriers faced by underrepresented groups in the Houses of the Oireachtas.
That within 3 years the Houses of the Oireachtas Service in developing its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy will focus on supporting Houses of the Oireachtas Service staff from minority groups including members of the Traveller and Roma communities, and that targets are monitored and reported upon to support and increase the number of staffs with disabilities and staff from Traveller and Roma communities.
That within 12 months The Houses of the Oireachtas Equality, Diversity Inclusion Strategy will include annual diversity reporting in line with National Inclusion Strategies (Gender, Disability, Traveller & Roma, Migrant Integration & LGBTI).
That the Houses of the Oireachtas Service
- to provide for access to external expertise on gender, equality and diversity matters for Members, when considering draft legislation.
- to develop in-house expertise on gender, equality and diversity matters in public policy.
That the Committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas
a) to increase the diversity of groups included in public consultations on their work, and to report annually on the diversity of witness lists.
b) should give attention to the potential diversity impact of draft Government Bills during the Pre-legislative consideration of Bills and to Private Members’ Bills during Pre-Committee Stage scrutiny.
Recruitment and workforce
a) Conduct a review of recruitment processes for Civil Service staff and political staff, to minimise any conscious or unconscious bias which might hinder recruitment of a diverse and representative workforce in the Houses.
b) Develop and deliver comprehensive mandatory inclusivity and diversity training to all Members and staff.
For further information please contact Jacinta Brack on jacinta@itmtrav.ie
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Yellow Flag School Awards Ceremony
The Yellow Flag Awards Ceremony has been rescheduled to take place on March 3rd 2022.
Five schools will be awarded their Yellow Flag in an online event hosted by RTE Presenter, Emer O’Neill:
- St. Tiernan’s Community School, Balally
- Firhouse Educate Together National School, Firhouse
- Holy Family Junior School, Ennis
- St. Brigid’s Secondary School, Killarney
- Grange Community College, Donaghmede
If you would like to join the online event, you can register here and you will receive the Zoom link.
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Representation
The Yellow Flag Programme was invited to speak to trainee teachers studying at Marino Institute of Education as part of their programme for Intercultural Awareness Week. The seminar went very well, and we are already in talks with them about reaching more of their students in the future.
The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) will hold their Annual Conference this week centred around the theme of diversity and inclusion. The Yellow Flag Programme has been invited to host two workshops, alongside several other Traveller speakers and academics.
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Ronnie Fay
We were deeply saddened on the passing of our long time colleague Ronnie Fay. Our sincere condolences to everyone within Pavee Point, and to Philip, her children Jonathan, Veronica and Patrick, her brother and sisters and wider family. Ronnie was an incredible human being that stood with us throughout the highest and lowest points in our journey for equality and human rights. All of us who knew and worked alongside Ronnie right up to the end, will remember her courage, strength and commitment. She will be widely missed in the Traveller and civil society sector.
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ITM is recruiting an Office Manager
ITM is currently recruiting an Office Manager, part-time (21 hours) to join our team.
The right person will have excellent communication skills and proficiency in office-based communication systems. The person will have a keen eye for detail and be supportive to a team working in a fast-paced environment.
You can find the full job description and details of how to apply thorugh this link: https://www.activelink.ie/vacancies/civil-liberties-human-rights/88454-irish-traveller-movement-office-manager-part-time
The Irish Traveller Movement is an Equal Opportunities Employer and encourages applications from the Traveller community.
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We are sad to say goodbye to our current Office Manager, Megan Forrest, who will be leaving ITM in March to take up a new role. Megan joined ITM in 2019 and has been a great asset to the organisation, supporting the staff team and the Board across all areas of our work, oftentimes in the background. We want to thank Megan for her dedication to the work, her support and solidarity of the Movement, and we wish her all the best in the future.
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Important Dates
8th March - International Women's Day
21st March - International Day Against Racism
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Irish Traveller Ethnicity Day at NUI Galway
NUI Galway’s Irish Traveller Ethnicity Day/Week celebrations 2022 will take place from February 28th to March 4th 2022. This year, the theme is teaching and learning. There will be a series of discussions and panels with a diverse range of speakers; Equality, diversity and inclusion being the key strand throughout each session. More information HERE
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Job Opportunities
Office Manager – Part-time (21 hours)
Irish Traveller Movement
Closing date: 5pm, 2nd March (Interviews to be held the week of 7th March)
More info HERE
Development Worker for LGBT+ Travellers & Roma (Full-time, 6-month contract)
National Action Group for LGBT+ Traveller and Roma Rights
Closing date: 5pm, 22nd February
More info HERE
Counsellor (Part-time)
Offaly Traveller Movement
Closing date: 1st march, 5pm
More info HERE
Social Worker in Mental Health (Part-Time)
Offaly Traveller Movement
Closing date: Tuesday 22nd March at 5pm
More info HERE
Education Worker
Galway Traveller Movement
Closing date: 5pm, 25th February
More information HERE
Primary Health Care Coordinator
Tallaght Travellers Community Development Project
Closing date: 5pm,1st March
More info HERE
Community Employment Scheme Supervisor
Clondalkin Travellers Training
Closing date: 5pm, 4th of March
More info HERE
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