Members of the Travelling community must form alliances with other minority groups such as refugees, asylum-seekers, Romanies and people with disabilities in order to tackle discrimination effectively, a Traveller conference in Galway was told yesterday.
"Travelling Forward - Community Work and Human Rights for Travellers", which was organised jointly by the National Traveller Women's Forum, Pavee Point and the Irish Traveller Movement, was attended by almost 200 delegates from all parts of Ireland.
Ms Kathleen Joyce of Pavee Point told delegates that international research had shown that when Gypsies and Travellers worked together and with other minority groups, greater progress was made in the fight for equality. The issue of language was raised by Travellers' representative Ms Patricia O'Reilly, from Athlone. She argued that Travellers had a responsibility to learn the terminology of legislation and government in order to participate fully and achieve results.
There was a broad welcome for the new equality legislation which was introduced yesterday. Ms Kathleen Joyce said she hoped it would allow people to be different but equal.
That's not the situation at present, she told delegates, pointing to healthcare as an example.
"The health service has been designed by settled people and doesn't meet all needs."
Others were more guarded in their reaction to the legislation.
"We are waiting to see what impact it will have," said the equality worker with the Irish Traveller Movement, Mr Thomas McCann. "Its effect on Travellers' lives will depend on the way it is implemented. This is not just for Travellers but will affect all minorities and is a step towards an equal society, depending on how it is implemented," he added.
The conference rapporteur and worker with Pavee Point Maureen Kenny warned delegates not to lose sight of long-term strategies while dealing with immediate crises.
Failure to analyse long-term objectives would wear activists out, she stressed. In addition to workshops and talks, the two-day conference also featured a celebration of Traveller culture in Whiden Toie, an event organised by the Galway Traveller Support Group, in partnership with the Galway Arts Festival.
Whiden Toie, which translates as "talking into the night", featured musicians poets and singers both from the Traveller and the settled community and was attended by more than 400 people.