A new drive to get ethnic status granted to Irish Travellers has been unveiled by the Irish Traveller Movement.
The group has started a national petition to have Travellers recognised as an ethnic minority.
Chairwoman of the Irish Traveller Movement Catherine Joyce said it was one of Travellers' core aims.
"Ethnic status would provide an important symbolic recognition of Traveller culture as both distinct and valued within Irish society. It would also provide protections for the official recognition of Traveller culture in the provision of housing, education and health services. For example, nomadism would have to be properly catered for in housing provision," she said.
The peition was signed by Michael Collins of the ITM and Phillip Watt of the National Consultative Committee
on Racism and Interculturalism, and groups such as Amnesty International and the Equality Authority have pledged to sign.