1/ The session begins with follow-up questions to the State.
Ms Rita Izsák-Ndiaye #CERD19 questions the lack of targeted and substantive measures re: Traveller and Roma employment, referencing ‘alarming statistics’ that only 20% of Travellers and 16.7% of Roma are in work
Ms Rita Izsák-Ndiaye #CERD19 questions the lack of targeted and substantive measures re: Traveller and Roma employment, referencing ‘alarming statistics’ that only 20% of Travellers and 16.7% of Roma are in work
2/ Ms Izsák-Ndiaye raises the criminalization of Traveller and Roma nomadism, but also poses a general recommendation of a national database on evictions to the State @PaveePoint @itmtrav @D_C_H_A
3/ The State have advised the #CERD19 committee and delegates that they will not be answering all posed questions this morning and will respond on ‘a number of issues’ in writing to the committee, David Stanton of @DeptJusticeIRL not present
5/ John Hurley now speaking on behalf of the State. Advises that the Central Statistics Office is planning a government-wide data equality audit, to improve collection methods and analysis for equality budgeting #CERD19
6/ On status in employment data and on the census, Hurley says this is done for Traveller and Roma on a ‘self-reported and voluntary basis’, and that all census takers receive ‘racial awareness’ training #CERD19 @merj_ireland @galwayantiRN
8/ On a side note, Buckley requests on Minister @davidstantontd’s behalf that NGOs ‘be thoughtful of the ways they frame their criticisms of the govt’ re: asylum seekers, and that the Minister has already raised this in meetings with NGOs in Ireland #CERD19
9/ On the interaction between hate-crime and the right to protest, the @DeptJusticeIRL advise that they are closely considering the impact on this right in their development of new legislation #CERD19 @ICCLtweet
10/ @DeptJusticeIRL have had difficulty in determining the effectiveness of hate-crime legislation, and will publish a report in the coming weeks comparing different countries approaches #CERD19
11/ The draft heads of a new bill regulating online harassment will be brought to the government by the end of 2019, with a wide-range of issues included such as racism and revenge porn #CERD19
12/ @GardaTraffic now addressing issues raised by committee. They welcome the legislative review of the Incitement of Hatred Act 1989, and reiterate their commitment to enforcing obligations under law #CERD19
13/ Strategic Priority #2 of @GardaTraffic is data collection and monitoring in a ‘safe, secure and legal matter whilst respecting the privacy of all persons’ and will have established a hate-crime monitoring unit who will provide disaggregated data on an annual basis #CERD19
14/ All members of @GardaTraffic are obliged to ‘not discriminate wrongfully’ as per org strategy, Daly advised that they are currently building relations with a number of communities affected by racism in #Ireland #CERD19
15/ There will be a new training programme for @GardaTraffic rolled out in 2020, which will include ‘diversity awareness’ training - covering aspects such as unconscious bias, with an online toolkit with info on ‘backgrounds and cultures’ #CERD19
16/ The State are now address questions re: #DirectProvision. They advise there are currently 7,500 accommodated. They are coming to the end of a process which will result in an increase in ‘independent living’ and self-catering #CERD19
17/ New standards on #DirectProvision will become publicly available in 2021. On vulnerability assessments, the State is reviewing services available to these asylum seekers, with a revised system in place by first quarter of 2020 #CERD19
18/ A new critical incidents inquiry has been in place re: deaths in #DirectProvision. The @DeptJusticeIRL have confirmed that they will be increasing the number of accommodation centres in the near future #CERD19
19/ @DeptJusticeIRL concludes discussion on #DirectProvision re: right to work. Advises that all prospective employers have to employ a rule of having 50% non-Irish citizen staff so asylum seeking employees have ‘national comparators to safeguard their rights’ #CERD19
20/ Buckley questions the emphasis on free legal aid in access to justice, suggesting ‘cheap, free and quick’ methods are available through multiple bodies not just ‘giving money to solicitors life @flacireland #CERD19
21/ @DeptJusticeIRL advised that when it comes to domestic workers living in the home there must be a ‘balancing of rights’ in this context between the employer and the employee @MigrantRightsIr #CERD19
22/ @DeptJusticeIRL confirms that there are no plans to sign the Intl Convention of the Rights of Migrant Workers in the future by #Ireland #CERD19
(See this thread for Traveller and Roma answers as will now come back here with Mother and Baby Home answers) @MixedRaceIrish @maeveorourke @SarahAnneBuckle #CERD19
24/ @DeptJusticeIRL acknowledges the desire for mixed-race survivors to learn more about their data, but advised that the @DCYAPress feel the specific work involved may be too complex ‘until a fuller understanding’ has been reached of the commissions work #CERD19
25/ Mr Gun Kut of the #CERD19 committee has just posed the question of an inclusion in Ireland’s strategy to tackle hate-speech of the accountability of politicians who commit these crimes, questioning the political will @DeptJusticeIRL
26/ Ms Izsák-Ndiaye of the #CERD19 committee has requested further information on the training of officials investigating hate-crimes, and the mandate of the new Electoral Commission to oversee political candidates carrying out hate-crimes
27/ Mr Murillo of the #CERD19 committee has requested additional information on the questions answered this morning, as well as the issue of burden of proof and ethnic minorities in the prison system - stating that over-representation of these groups is clear indicator of racism
28/ Mr Murillo has also suggested it’d be useful for Ireland to address the potential impact of Artificial Intelligence and automisation on ethnic minorities, including in employment and challenges re: algorithmic bias, and to ensure individual data protection #CERD19
29/ On the accountability of politicians, @DeptJusticeIRL say difficult for them to discuss actions of political parties. References @INARIreland election promise which was signed by all major political parties, and that the Taoiseach has condemned hate-fueled statements #CERD19
30/ @DeptJusticeIRL advises that one, unnamed candidate did publicly apologise to @PaveePoint for anti-Traveller statements in the recent by-elections but did not address the statements of far-right candidates who also ran in these by-elections #CERD19
31/ @DeptJusticeIRL in response to burden of proof: advises that it is ‘highly unusual’ to reverse it in Irish law, but is in consideration for the drafting of the new hate-crime legislation #CERD19
32/ Coming back to politicians re: hate speech, @DeptJusticeIRL advises that the public should not be ‘giving oxygen to people doing it for drama’ during election periods, but that it ‘may well be an issue’ considered in legislation #CERD19
33/ @DeptJusticeIRL has advised the committee that the @EU_Commission has not addressed any issues with #Ireland’s compliance with the Data Protection Directive #CERD19
34/ Ms McDougall of #CERD19 committee has challenged @DeptJusticeIRL reference to free legal aid (20/) as being inaccurate, and questions local authorities’ potential racial bias in the lack of allocation of housing to Travellers
35/ McDougall suggests that #Ireland’s practice of burden of proof creates great expense for the complainant and hints at injustices in the legal system, and calls on @DeptJusticeIRL to consider the intersection of sexism in issues raised through targeted policies #CERD19
36/ Mr Avtonomov of the #CERD19 committee requested more information on involvement of people of African descent on a national level, and what Traveller ethnic minority status entails - which was raised yesterday but is as of yet unanswered
38/ Mr Diaby of the #CERD19 has reiterated the question of representation of ethnic minorities in school textbooks which was raised yesterday but is as of yet unanswered
39/ @DeptJusticeIRL has reaffirmed statements re: access to justice and free legal aid mentioned in 20/ and challenged by Ms McDougall of the #CERD19 committee
40/ #Ireland advises it is now carrying out trend analysis of annual summary reports on social housing, and that they have increased the ringfenced budget available for Traveller housing - acknowledging a ‘significant underspend’ that they are addressing
41/ @DeptJusticeIRL highlights the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020 includes commitments for ethnic minority women which is ‘enabling the govt to create an approach of intersectionality’, asserting that the they are getting better at implementation #CERD19
42/ @DeptJusticeIRL reasserts difficulty addressing actions of political parties ‘as a public servant’, and notes that they feel that there is increased participation of ethnic minorities in public life - highlighting the Taoiseach @LeoVaradkar’s own background #CERD19
43/ @DeptJusticeIRL states that the State is ‘getting better’ at addressing issues of gender, but still do not accurately reflect ‘the mixed nature of our communities’ - suggesting potential internships for Traveller and Roma people #CERD19
44/ To conclude her remarks, @DeptJusticeIRL advises will submit a written response to #CERD19 re: representation of ethnic minorities in the school curriculum
48/ In her final note to #Ireland, Shepherd tells the @DeptJusticeIRL to ‘take all measures necessary to make racists uncomfortable’. Significant statement which references the recommendations of @INARIreland amongst others #CERD19
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