Travellers protest against racist legislation

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday July 19, 2002 16:35 by MG

Around 150 members of the Travelling community are protesting in Ennis against the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, which the Irish Council for Civil Liberties has described as racist and prejudiced...

Around 150 Travellers from throughout Ireland are picketing the offices of Ennis town council today in protest at new legislation allowing the Gardai to impound caravans parked illegally on public or private property.

The protest was organised after Gardai in the Co Clare town seized three caravans earlier this week.

The three families whose homes were confiscated have been staying with relatives and in bed and breakfast accommodation for the past few days.

Representatives of the Travellers are due to meet Ennis town council later today to discuss the matter.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has condemned the garda actions in Ennis, saying the legislation which led to them is racist and prejudiced.

Liam Herrick, the acting director of the ICCL, said: “When this act was introduced, the Government claimed that it was targeted at large-scale commercial settlements such as that at the Dodder last year.

"Now we have the proof that local authorities are going to use it to victimise individual families.

"What is most reprehensible is that the local authorities who themselves have failed to provide accommodation for these families are then prosecuting them and taking their caravans away.”

Mr Herrick urged the public to speak out against the legislation, describing it as “an embarrassment to anyone who believes in equality or the basic human right to a home and to a way of life”.

He said the people of Clare should ask the local authorities why families are being made homeless because politicians have failed to provide adequate housing or a halting site.

“It is notable that this act could not have been passed in Northern Ireland because of its discriminatory nature, but in Ireland we are willing to punish citizens for the State failing to reach housing targets,” he said.