Results 501-520 of 1,047,058 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Máiría Cahill OR speaker:Catherine Murphy OR speaker:Helen McEntee OR speaker:Darragh O'Brien) in 'Committee meetings'

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community:

I welcome our guests. I remind people of their privileges and that they cannot participate if they are outside of Leinster House, etc. Those giving evidence have to be physically present within the grounds of Leinster House and should not criticise or make charges against any person, or identify him or her by name or in such a way that makes him or her identifiable. I think we all understand that.

I propose that we publish the opening statements from our witnesses. Is that agreed? Agreed. I suggest that we invite our witnesses to speak for five or ten minutes and that we allow members to ask questions and make comments for approximately five minutes. Members may ask more questions after everybody gets an opportunity to speak.

The committee is looking at Travellers' experience of the justice system. Today we will focus on Travellers in prison. The committee has already visited Castlerea Prison, Mountjoy Female Prison - the Dóchas Centre - and Oberstown Children Detention Campus. Travellers represent less than 1% of the population yet we make up 8% of male prisoners, 16% of female prisoners and 21% of children detained. The committee looks forward to hearing from our witnesses about this very important subject. We would like to hear about the experience of Travellers dealing with the justice system, including prison, and how we can make things better.

We are grateful to our witnesses for coming here today. They include representatives of the Irish Penal Reform Trust, the Traveller Justice Initiative, the Traveller Mediation Service and Barnardos.

Our witnesses are all very welcome here today.

It is very important for us as a committee to examine the justice system and, most importantly, why there are so many Travellers in prison in this country and what supports we need for Travellers. I am sure we all know the answers but it is important we document those answers and that this committee has a responsibility to work with the Traveller community.

We will begin with one quote a young man said to me in 2020. It was his first time to be in court and he was very nervous. I said to him he will be okay and that everything will be fine. He said, "No Eileen, I am already guilty." I said no, he would not be and that was up to the judge. He said, "I am guilty on the basis of being a member of the Traveller community." I want us all to be mindful of that before we start.

I will open it up to our witnesses. I ask Ms Saoirse Brady to begin.

(26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Murphy: During the Celtic tiger period there was not enough oversight. If shortcuts were taken, they were taken underground where they would not be seen. I am not surprised this is turning up as an issue. What is the oversight now? Does Irish Water have oversight? What amount does it put into oversight to make sure we will not see a repeat of that?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Business of Committee (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Murphy: In the OPW response to the committee on 13 June, it indicated there are no insurance valuations for the heritage properties in State ownership as they are covered by the State's own indemnity. I requested a follow-up and the OPW confirmed there is no insurance valuation on Castletown House. The majority of OPW heritage assets are recorded on an asset register with a €1 value on the...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Business of Committee (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Murphy: I thank Mr. McCarthy for that reply. For the benefit of the committee, there is an entrance that was built at the same time as the house and for the past 17 years it has been purely pedestrian. It is incredibly popular, one of the most popular sites in the country. For the past 17 years, there has been access at the rear that is leased from the owner. The owner offered it for sale...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Business of Committee (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Murphy: Yes, it was offered for sale first to the OPW which went to the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform which spent six months navel gazing and no decision was made.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Business of Committee (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Murphy: We had them before the committee in the past. My understanding is that the figure was around €5 million. It was sold for perhaps €1 million more. I cannot be sure of the amount. It was a closed bidding process. The problem is that this asset now cannot be enjoyed in the first instance and, given the money that has gone into it, it was very shortsighted not to have purchased...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Business of Committee (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Murphy: Yesterday, or the day before yesterday, a portion of it went up for sale.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Business of Committee (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Murphy: The problem is that access in is important. To even get a lease it would be important to get access but that requires a willing partner and the new owner is not a willing partner. My point is that we often look at value for money as things, that is, on what we spend and what we get for it. Not spending the amount of money to buy it is almost criminal. It is outrageous, let us put it that...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Business of Committee (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Murphy: Most certainly, yes.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Business of Committee (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Murphy: If we just flag that the matter has come up.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Business of Committee (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Murphy: That is going to be flagged for them.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Business of Committee (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Murphy: It is certainly a matter that several of us have an interest in pursuing.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Business of Committee (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Murphy: Yes.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Business of Committee (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Murphy: Again, can we ask the OPW in advance of coming in about the business case and the value-for-money report? Please ask them to provide that in advance.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Business of Committee (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Murphy: And how that has changed, given the one that is out in Sandyford.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Business of Committee (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Murphy: I raise another thing we should look for. We should write to the OPW to ask it if a capacity review has been conducted within the past ten years or so and if so, whether a report was produced. If it was, the OPW should provide the committee with it.

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Business of Committee (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Murphy: When it comes to the OPW, I do not know what the position is. There is a relatively new chair. Many of the things that happened did so under his predecessor. Can we ask the previous chair to be included in the invitation?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Business of Committee (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Murphy: Can we ask him then?

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Business of Committee (26 Sep 2024)

Catherine Murphy: Yes, but we will ask anyway on that basis.