National Women’s Council of Ireland condemns action by Dublin City Council at Travellers’ Halting Si

Published: Thursday, October 07, 2004

The National Women's Council of Ireland to-day expressed their deep concern at the treatment of Travellers at Dunsink Lane in Finglas by Dublin City Council. "At a time when Travellers and Traveller organisations are working and negotiating closely with the state to reach a solution to the crisis in Traveller accommodation provision, the action taken by Dublin City Council in blocking the Dunsink Lane appears unnecessary and provocative" said Dr. Joanna Mc Minn Director of the NWCI. "The erection of a barrier at the entrance to a Traveller site accommodating approximately 400 people can only be seen as a regressive and dangerous step. We are concerned for the health and safety of the women, men, children and older people living on the site who now have little or no access to emergency services should they be required", she added.

The NWCI highlighted as extremely questionable, the arrest and holding of Martin Collins, a well known Traveller leader who has been central in all efforts to advance the position of Travellers in Ireland. They called on Dublin City Council to remove the Dunsink Lane barrier and begin a process of resolving the dispute as a matter of urgency.