Settled people must back move on travellers - Taylor

WITHOUT the support of settled people many initiatives by statutory bodies to help travellers would fail, the Minister for Equality and Law Reform said.

Opening a series of statements to the House on the Task Force on the Travelling Community, Mr Taylor said this applied particularly to providing suitable accommodation.

The major obstacle for traveller families was opposition from local residents to traveller accommodation, particularly halting sites, in their areas.

This opposition has frequently manifested itself in legal proceedings which have either delayed or rejected proposals for traveller accommodation in particular areas.

The Government recognises that these issues need to be faced and will provide for necessary legislative amendments to facilitate a determined effort to achieve the targets set in the task force report.

"The decisive action taken by the Government on foot of the report would lay the foundations for a solution, enabling services to be provided and fostering a new and more harmonious co existence between travellers and the settled community. I have no illusions as to how difficult this might be but we must make a start."

Some media comment did little to encourage a positive approach to such relations. He was dismayed at the "intemperate statement" made recently by a local councillor when referring to travellers. He was glad the remarks had been withdrawn and hoped remarks during the debate would redress the balance and give encouragement to dedicated people who strived to improve the lot of travellers and foster better relations.

The task force proposed an integrated package. Without provision for adequate accommodation, improvements in the provision of health and education would be more difficult. Following simple implementation of the report, travellers would be able to participate more fully in economic development through growth in the traveller economy and in the mainstream labour force so that their natural talent to be self reliant and resourceful would, be encouraged.

The Fianna Fail spokesman on the Travelling Community, Mr Chris Flood, said the report set out all the issues which needed to be confronted in any meaningful attempt to meet the legitimate needs of the travelling community. It had been widely welcomed by that community and the people who worked with it.

"It is recognise that considerable resources will have to be made available if all the recommendations are to be implemented. To oversee the monitoring and full implementation of the recommendations on an approved timescale a national body will need to be established on a statutory basis to carry out this work.

It should produce an annual report and its membership should include members of the travelling community and representatives of the organisations working on its behalf.

The challenge facing this Government, and indeed the next one, would be the speedy implementation of the task force recommendations. "A willingness on the part of governments to accept that no further reports are required is called for now.