Ireland's Human Rights and Equality Commissioner has questioned the lack of recognition by the State towards Traveller ethnicity.
Emily Logan told the Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality that it was a serious and ongoing concern that overt recognition of Travellers as an ethnic minority continues to be withheld by successive governments.
Ms Logan did not mince her words when she went before the committee this morning.
She said there was no legal impediment to the recognition of Traveller ethnicity so it begged the question as to why it had not happened.
Earlier, Director of the Irish Traveller Movement Bernard Joyce said Travellers had been let down by the State.
He said ethnicity had symbolic and practical benefits.
The matter was addressed by the Justice and Equality Committee two years ago when members said it was no longer tenable for the State to deny Traveller ethnicity.
