It is really important that any housing and homeless plans at EU and national level address racism, and discrimination and the specific needs of minority ethnic groups, but this requires targeted and mainstreaming measures as well as robust data to inform responses.

The report highlighted the need for the State to improve living conditions for asylum seekers & refugees. It also raised the stark realities on the ground for Travellers & Roma, with no evidence of improvement in accommodation or living conditions since their last report in 2019.

Last week, the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) recognised a clear link between racism and homelessness and poor living conditions.

This has a knock on effect in terms of health outcomes and the social determinants of health. We know, for example, that people who experience persistent poverty and homelessness or inadequate accommodation are at significantly higher risk of substance use and related harms.

John Paul said: “In recent years, in our role as long term members of the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee, and working directly on the ground with Travellers and Roma, we have witnessed accommodation and homelessness become the main issue.

John Paul also attended a Depaul Event: ‘Building an EU Strategy on Eliminating Homelessness’ and met with Freek Spinnewijn, the Executive Director of the European Federation on Eliminating Homelessness (FEANSTA).

The Group engaged with Irish MEPs, as well as members of the EU Parliament’s Housing Committee and the Housing Taskforce of the European Commission. This was an opportunity to inform the development of the EU’s plan on housing, advocating that homelessness should be a key focus.

John Paul Collins, Community Development worker with Pavee Point's Drugs and Alcohol Programme, attended a trip to the European Parliament in Brussels this week, as a member of the Irish Homeless Policy Group.

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Looking forward to continued work in partnership with Cuan, the Dept of Justice & Migration and other key departments and agencies to ensure that minority ethnic women, including Traveller and Roma women, are meaningfully included in all facets of DSGBV policy and practice.

We welcome a number of positive developments discussed at the forum, including the recent amendments introduced in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences, Domestic Violence and International Instruments) Bill 2025.

Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre attended the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) Sector Forum organised by the Department of Justice and Migration this morning.

John and Michael from the Men's Health Programme at Pavee Point gave a presentation, earlier this week, to Monaghan Integrated Development, offering ideas and pointers to Monaghan Integrated Development for engaging with Traveller men locally.

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European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) calls for “decisive action to secure the effective implementation of the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy” -full statement https://t.co/sW6UJqyVNz

"It’s also essential, as a number of people stated during today’s event, that career prospects for Travellers and Roma are available, and reflective of their qualifications.”

So it’s crucial that the Midway Review charts a course for action to make very significant progress for Travellers and Roma in Higher Education."

“The National Access Plan has been a good vehicle for Traveller and Roma access to Higher Education” said David Joyce, Co-ordinator for Further and Higher Education in Pavee Point, “but more needs to be done in order to reach the targets that have been set."

Eighty participants from a variety of backgrounds and organisations were able to join us, including Traveller organisations and groups working with Roma from all over the country.

With a short consultation window, participation was invited from Travellers, Roma, Traveller organisations and groups working with Roma to share reflections on current issues and priority actions.