Travellers “have to hide their identity in order to survive”, attendees heard at the launch of a survey on Traveller and Roma rights on Wednesday. Martin Collins, co-director of the non-governmental organisation Pavee Point, highlighted concerns about “having to hide one’s identity in order to survive, whether that’s in the schoolyard, in a classroom, in the workplace... And it’s really sad.”He warned: “Some Travellers feel compelled to hide their identity in order to avoid discrimination. The survey of 415 Travellers and 106 Roma was part of an EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) survey across 13 countries. “It was a positive experience for all of us and what made it work so well was it was Travellers talking to Travellers, Travellers interviewing Travellers.”The survey found three out of four Travellers and two out of three Roma experienced discrimination in the year before the survey was done. “As a Roma women we face this every day, and it becomes annoying.

Source: Irish Examiner February 04, 2026 19:05 UTC