Exactly, Jimmy. If people have a problem with travellers, they have it for a reason. It seems to me that travellers have an attitude that they are owed everything. They are Irish citizens like the rest of us & get on with it. They seem to take everything & contribute absolutely nothing in return. My own personal sympathy for them is zero. That goes for anyone else who thinks the world owes them something just because they are here. So – is it any wonder people do “profile” some ?

Next time you think about writing something. Check your self , “”Irish history , man you are not smart like you sound you need to ready your bible

its interesting how the ECRI report believes our Gardai are “racial profiling” without any factual evidence or basis.

….. is this not Racial Profiling in itself , I mean the ECRI seem to be making sweeping comments about one race of people without hard evidence.

Easily free housing and a garage port to park the carvan next to it.

And don’t forget the sulky track

It is almost reaching the point where it is against the law, to speak the uncomfortable truth.
In general the things which distinguish ‘travellers’ from the rest of us is their far, far greater propensity toward violence, multi-generational welfare abuse, stealing, littering, drunken violence, fraud, etc. etc.
‘qualities’ which, lets face it, are all bad…

Tell them the truth “”we all hoping Obama who is black can fix immigration in USA so that some good Irish people will no longer be called by names calling , charity begins at home .

“What defines these people as a minority class?”

A “minority”, because there are less if them.

A “class”, because their requirements are well defined & consistent.

Excellent questions Marlon.
It seems they define themselves as a minority.
In the UK “Irish travellers” have ethnic minority status, therefore they believe it should be the same here.

They are Irish citizens. Plain & simple. It would be a huge mistake to grant them “minority class”.

Sooo…. Now… I’m playing the Devil’s Advocate here….. But…. As a naturilized Irish citizen, of African-Irish-Native American-German Heritage…. Should I be considered a minority class… Therefore, recieve the same benefits of an Adult of the Traveling Community….

Just curious????????????

They are a separate ethnic group of Irish people with their own language and culture.

?arlon, you are a minority but youre not Irish regardless of what passport you have so no, you shouldnt get any special treatment. Theres nothing wrong with the irish trying to get the irish travellers to integrate but assimilation is something we shouldnt be hoping for.

Please note… My intention from my previous question(s) is not that I want to receive preferential treatment or entitlements. I was fortunate to be able to move to Ireland with a wealth of skills, work experience and resources.

Again, my previous question was taking the role of the Devil’s Advocate.

“Their choice not to intergrate into society?”

That’s a bit general is it not, Marlon? Many of them do want to integrate with wider society. I think you’ll find that wider society tends to have a problem with that though. You just have to look at how many people celebrated the recent comments by Councillors regarding not wanting travellers living near them. Hell, many people even lauded the fact that house was burned down last week.

Anyone that doesn’t see that bigotry exists is either deluded, or just plain stupid.

mart_n… I am posing questions. “Their choice not to intergrate into society?” Is a question… Is their choice? Is it society’s choice? Is it a Traveler’s cultural choice? Could intergration be related to the Traveler’s stance on education?

I do not question there is bigotry in the world. However, I have learned from personal experience that bigotry can be held to a limited amount with a strong outreach education program directed at all.

They are a separate ethnic group? What? They are Irish the travelers, they come from the same exact people as us. Why are you telling Marlon he’s not Irish? He is an Irish citizen and has Irish ancestry. How is he not Irish? I am Irish born, half-Irish by blood and have been told “I am not Irish”, what utter bullshit. Your clearly racist, Tommy.

Phil, did you not know that if 9 out of 10 do wrong and you kick them off the Luas you are right. But you ask the 10th politely for their ticket and they have it they are entitled to scream and shout that you are racist.
Sorry number 10 but if the rest of your buddies are wrongdoers then I am entitled to question you as well provided I do it in a correct manner.
You don’t like it then bring pressure to bear on the rest if your criminal associates.

“People who complain about racial profiling obviously have something to hide”

One of the dumbest things I’ve ever read on here, and that’s saying something! The world’s top human rights advocacy groups, and the EC have something to hide then… as they’re complaining about profiling in this case?

The Journal has become worse than the Daily Mail with the comments being posted recently.

“People willing to trade their freedoms for some temporary security; deserve neither, and will lose both”

James…. I know what you mean. Been there… Done that!

However, I hate the racial profiling that I have been confronted with by individuals. Because of my colour, some have chosen to be rude, abrupt and some cases abusive. However, when I speak and they realize that I have an American accent…. The individual’s demeanour changes greatly.

Thank god that this doesn’t happen too often. But it can put a kink in the day.

James my heart goes out to you.

I can only imagine what you have seen and heard Marlon…

I am lucky that the worst I have been subject to is being mistaken for being English due to my Aussie-Irish hybrid accent… The standard question when meeting someone is ‘What part of England are you from?’… My standard answer is ‘The Australian bit’… What can you do only laugh it off? :)

I was mistaken for being English in Aus plus most Aussies seem to think Ireland is part of the UK. Hardly worth getting upset over! Id be more upset if they thought I was American! We dont like those much!

James.. There has been at least one serious encounter. However, when it happens. .. I’m left stunned in disbelief. Often unable to react or respond. Good or bad… I was taught never to judge a book by its cover… Especially, if I don’t want to be judged by my cover.

Oh well… Such as life! Hence me believing in Karma!

Good luck to you!

Marlon. Sorry to hear about your negative experiences, You are a text book example of the kind of immigrants we should be attracting to this country – Honest, Hard Working, willing to integrate into Irish Society!
Unfortunately due to the rampant abuse of our immigration rules by certain groups,( who concidently mostly hail from a particular country in West Africa) has led to many Irish people feeling angry at our hospitality been abused. These people chose not to partake in the usual channels of immigration (visa processes) but instead opted to abuse the asylum system or had anchor babies, over stay on tourist visas in order to remain, completely disrespecting our immigration rules
I think overall you will find we Irish are tolerant, welcoming and friendly! I hope your experiences of Ireland will be more positive than negative!

Where in Ireland do you live? Craggy island?

Once in Israel, for a “random” security check

And how did it make you feel to be treated with suspicion based entirely how you looked or dressed or sounded?

It was predictable, the security girl stopped me for a random search, she had the planes manifest with three big circles around Irish people, but of course it was just random. Immigration people where quite nice though.

Haven’t been racially profiled, but have been used to make up the numbers on the other side of the ledger. I’ve seen old ladies being used for the same.

Me, in the UK, arriving from Ireland in the 1990s.

I suppose nowerdays if the IRA started up again, they’d have to look for IRA suspects among Afro-Caribbean on flights from Jamaica.

I have. As a white, English speaking person with a European passport I am profiled as low risk on a daily basis. This is pure evil though. I should be hassled just as much as people who do commit more crimes, statistically.

Reality stops where my feelings begin!

Political correctness with “mental health issues” I think you mean

So you don’t think it hasn’t “gone mad” yet, Damo? You’re having a laugh!

No, I don’t think it has. I don’t think it’s really a thing as such.

I’m an immigrant and, as you will see from my comments above, I have received none of the things you speak of… Perhaps you should clean the tar off your brush? Or does your inaccurate statement not apply to me cos I ‘is’ white?…..

BS

Gerry – respect is a virtue that is earned. It is not automatic just because of who u are.

Mate, your stated opinion made reference to immigrants getting the best of everything. I am merely pointing out that being an immigrant, I have not received the best of anything except the exact same opportunity to succeed as every other resident of this country.

I would not ask for, and certainly would not expect or accept the State paying for the cost of my citizenship.

Fair play to ya pal! It would be great if they were all like you!

If you’re against a minority dictating, when why are you against Religion in schools? A vast majority of people have a Religion…

The north… a utopia of social harmony and integration

Ah ye Northern Irish ‘Loyalists’ are beacons of tolerance and acceptance!

I remember being discriminated against in N Ireland when I visited during the Troubles, Mark. I had people in shops serve me & not look me face to face with no thank you or please. Just take my money & I may as well just feck off seemed to be the attitude. So – anyine from N Irl can’t afford to throw stones in that regard. Just pure bigotry, imo. Ireland is not racist but our experience of certain people from certain countries have taught us that not everyone who comes to the ROI is genuine. People express that & suddenly we are all “racists” ??!! I always said that if one has to throw the “r” card, you have no argument.

Well, there you guys go with labelling all the people of the north as intolerant or bigoted. Proves my point that not only immigrants, established minority ethnic groups (which includes Travellers) get it, but ur closest neighbours and kinsman. Can you honestly say that Ireland is any better than what you think of the north? The rest of the world don’t think so. Stereotyping of any groups is ignorant and just stupidity. Sure its only been recently cool to be Irish over the past decade or so as Irish people have and still do to a certain extent been labelled drunks, violent, thick and lazy. To quote Albert Einstein … “Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment” I think that just sums up a lot of people in Ireland right there.

@Mark, so you say Ireland is racist, that’s just what…? Making an observation?

But when someone says the same thing about the North, that’s suddenly over-generalisation and bigotry. Wonderfully consistent logic.