07/11/2019

Fórsa To Advocate For The Traveller Community

The Fórsa trade union is set to highlight the issues faced by the travelling community in an upcoming event.

The Traveller Equality Network will be formally launched by Mayor of Sligo Gino O'Boyle at an event on Saturday.

Fórsa official Lisa Connell explained: "The purpose of the event is to highlight many of the issues that affect the Traveller community in the workplace, including the depth of structural inequalities facing Travellers from accessing the workplace, as well as socio-economic rights and a focus on public policy provisions.

"We're looking forward to welcoming Fórsa members and Traveller community representatives to meet and discuss these issues," Ms Connell added.

Speakers on the day include James O'Leary, CEO of INVOLVE, Martin Ward of the Galway Traveller Movement and Bernadette Maughan of the Sligo Traveller Support Group.

The launch of the Traveller Network follows on from the creation of Fórsa Equality Committee networks for women activists and people with disabilities.

The event will take place this Saturday, 09 November, at 11am in Sligo Town Hall.

Following registration at 10.30am, the event programme is as follows:

• 11am: Formal opening by Mayor of Sligo Gino O'Boyle

• 11.15am: Keynote: Andy Pike, Head of Education, Fórsa trade

• 12.15pm – 12.45pm: Ann McGee, Fórsa President; James O’Leary, CEO Involve

• 12.45pm – 1.30pm: Lunch

• 1.30pm – 2.45pm: Martin Ward, Galway Traveller Network; Bernadette Maughan, Sligo Traveller Support Group; chaired by Ann McGee, President of Fórsa

• 2.45pm: Closing comments by Margaret Coughlan, Chair of Fórsa's Equality Committee.



(JG/CM)


Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

14 June 2017
New National Traveller And Roma Inclusion Strategy Launched
The new National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2017 – 2021 has been launched by the Minister for Justice David Stanton. The development of the Strategy involved a comprehensive public consultation process, including two rounds of public meetings and engagement with Travellers organisations at national level.
14 January 2014
Council Votes In Favour Of Traveller Accommodation Sites
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has agreed a proposal to build Traveller accommodation sites. Sixteen Councillors voted in favour of the draft Traveller accommodation plan, which makes provisions for 11 sites across the south Dublin area. Ten Councillors voted against the proposal.
18 January 2017
Call For Taoiseach To Progress With Traveller Ethnicity Plans
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, has called on the Taoiseach to make progress on the outstanding proposal of recognising Traveller ethnicity.
14 February 2019
44% Traveller Accommodation Budget Underspend 'Unacceptable'
A 44% underspend in the traveller accommodation budget in 2018 has been described as "unacceptable", by Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin. Deputy Ó Broin called on the Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy to explain "why he is allowing this repeated underspend to occur on his watch".
13 December 2017
23-Year-Old Woman Arrested In Connection With Triple Shooting
A 23-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with a triple shooting incident in Parslickstown, Mulhuddart on Monday 11 December. A mother and two of her sons, an 8-month-old baby boy and a teenager, were all injured by a shotgun blast. It is understood the incident is related to a feud between Traveller families going back a number of years.