Traveller Policy Division
The goal of the Traveller Policy Division is to support and co-ordinate ongoing policy development in relation to Travellers in Irish society. The work of the unit includes:
- monitoring and supporting actions to increase the effectiveness of national policies
- promoting positive communications between Traveller communities, public bodies and the wider settled community
- contributing to policy development at international level
The division provides secretariat and related support to the High Level Group on Traveller Issues and co-ordinates monitoring of the implementation of the Report of the High Level Group on Traveller Issues. In addition, the division works with State agencies and representative organisations to promote positive communications, including conflict resolution. Local Traveller-focussed projects may also be supported through the Traveller Interagency Fund.
A very important development which arose from the National Partnership Agreement Towards 2016, was the creation of a new overarching National Traveller Monitoring and Advisory Committee (NTMAC). This was established in March 2007, with the Taoiseach in attendance at its first meeting. It operates independently of Departments and replaces the Traveller Monitoring Committee which monitored the 1995 Task Force Report. It provides a more inclusive forum for all of the social partners and seven out of its twenty nine members are Traveller representatives. This has provided a very positive context for dialogue and for pursuing the overall effort to deliver better outcomes for Travellers. The committee is inclusive of social partners and of different viewpoints from within the Traveller community. Its first advisory report (PDF - 117KB) was presented to the Minister in 2009
International
Internationally, the unit engages with a range of international organisations including the following:
Council of Europe Organisations/Working Groups
European Commission on Racism and Intolerance (ECRI): This is a Council of Europe body established to combat violence, discrimination and prejudice faced by persons or groups of persons, notably on grounds of ‘race’, colour, language, religion, nationality and national or ethnic origin.
Group of Experts on Roma, Gypsies and Travellers (MG-S ROM): This group advises the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on matters concerning Roma and Travellers in Europe.
The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for National Minorities (FCNM): The unit supports the Department of Foreign Affairs in relation to the monitoring of the application of this Convention in Ireland. All documents related to the Convention, including Ireland’s Second Report under the Framework Convention (PDF - 836KB) on 21 December 2005 and the Opinion on Ireland by the Advisory Committee (PDF - 398KB) can be found on the Council of Europe’s website.
The Third State Report under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities has been submitted to the Council of Europe in July 2011. It is now available on the FCNM website, see link below.
http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/minorities/3_FCNMdocs/PDF_3rd_SR_Ireland_en.pdf
United Nations
The Traveller Policy Unit contributes to the Department’s participation in the UN monitoring process for the United Nations Convention on Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD).
European Commission
Following a proposal from the European Commission on an EU Framework for national Roma integration strategies, all Member States were asked to present to the European Commission a strategy for Roma inclusion or sets of policy measures within their social inclusions policies for improving the situation of Roma people.
Ireland's National Traveller/Roma Integration Strategy is available here and can also be viewed on the EU Commission website here
Ireland’s National Traveller Roma Integration Strategy 2011
Contact details for Traveller Policy Division:
Traveller Policy Division
Department of Justice and Equality,
Bishop's Square,
Redmond's Hill,
Dublin 2.
Telephone: +353 1 4790200 (main reception)
Fax number: 01 4790296
Lo-call: 1890 555509
E-mail: Traveller_Policy_INBOX@justice.ie