The human rights commissioner for the Council of Europe has called for the abolition of trespass laws that “prevent Travellers from practising their nomadic lifestyle,” reports The Mirror.
It is one of several suggestions made in a document on the human rights of Roma and Travellers in Ireland that Commissioner Michael O’Flaherty released on Tuesday.
In April of last year, the Irish human rights lawyer assumed the position, and in October, he met with representatives of Roma and Travellers in Limerick and Dublin, reports The Mirror.
Trespassing on any land, whether privately or publicly held, is still illegal under the 2001 Trespass Legislation and the Housing Miscellaneous Acts of 1992 and 2002.
If travellers violate these restrictions, their trailers may be seized, and they may be evicted and even imprisoned.
There are several locations where local officials have placed rocks where travellers formerly stopped, reports The Mirror.
According to the commissioner, many travellers are prevented from engaging in nomadism by these rules and the ongoing dearth of accommodations that are suitable for their cultural background.
Just 15% to 20% of people are thought to still reside in trailers or mobile houses, sometimes in unsanitary and congested situations including on unauthorised halting sites without access to electricity or water, reports The Mirror.
According to Mr. O’Flaherty, the laws prohibiting travellers from living nomadic lives have to be lifted, and steps ought to be done to offer “culturally appropriate accommodation at local level.”
Following “consistent accounts” of poor maintenance, rat infestation, inadequate sanitation and waste disposal systems, and dangerous or sporadic electricity installations, he also urged authorities to remedy living conditions in stopping sites, reports The Mirror.
The commissioner’s suggestion complies with the requests made by Pavee Point, a nonprofit that represents travellers.
An independent expert group’s July 2019 study on traveler accommodations for the Department of Housing included a similar proposal.
According to that organisation, the law need to be revoked, especially for property that is controlled by the government, until a suitable network of temporary locations has been created, reports The Mirror.
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