Brain Lenihan calls Pavee Point into question.

national | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Friday July 27, 2007 16:51 by Red Wedge

Brain Lenihan calls Pavee Point into question.

There was a clear consensus in the media surrounding the recent humanitarian crisis involving Roma Gypsies camped on the M50. There was little discussion of the supposed “free movement of people” in the European Union. Noting either on the discrimination faced by the Roma Gypsies in Romania and elsewhere.

The crisis featured twice on Tom McGuirk’s weekly news round up on RTE Radio 1. On both occasions, there was consensus amongst the panellists. The assertion that Ireland is a soft touch for “welfare tourists” was repeated and allowed to go unchallenged. McGuirk reiterated the claims-made without any evidence-that the Roma had houses, farms and jobs to return to. In fairness to him, he wasn’t alone in this-the claims were made all over the mainstream media.

McGuirk put forward what must now be the ultimate argument stopper of our times. The charge that those who dared speak up to defend the Roma were being “politically correct”. Again, he wasn’t alone in this.

There was silence in political circles. Not a peep out of any T.D.

The two organisations to come out of the episode with any shred of decency were the traveller organisation Pavee Point and Crosscare, the social care agency.

Crosscare provided some basic assistance to the families. Pave Point worked throughout the last two months to highlight the crisis and worked with other organisations in calling for the fulfilment of the basic human needs of the families involved.

However, Pavee Point is now coming under criticism for its role in working with the Roma. According to a report in today’s Irish Times, “The Minister for Justice (Brian Lenihan) has asked for a report from his officials into the role of Pavee Point in the recent Roma Controversy”. He continued “Naturally I’m reviewing this case...to see if organisations which are funded by the exchequer here are performing their correct roles”.

Lenihan’s underlying message is clear. The correct role of an organisation like Pavee Point is not to challenge or raise issues. It is to go keep their heads down.

The Times also reported the following: “He (Lenihan) would not say if Pavee Points funding as at risk”. There is noting new in this veiled threat. State funded organisations have in the past lost funding on the basis of challenging decsion makers. Lenihan has reminded those organisations’ depending on funding that dissent is dangerous.

Lenihan can be contacted at [email protected].