Irish Travellers' rights 'breached' due to poor accommodation Published duration 16 May 2016

image copyright Council of Europe image caption The European Committee of Social Rights monitors states' compliance with the European Social Charter

The Republic of Ireland has been found in breach of Travellers' human rights by providing them with inadequate and insufficient accommodation.

It follows a formal complaint lodged by the European Roma Rights Centre.

The committee also found that Irish law provides "inadequate safeguards for Travellers threatened with eviction".

The European Social Charter is a Council of Europe treaty which guarantees fundamental social and economic rights.

The 1961 treaty is a counterpart of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Members of the watchdog body unanimously agreed that the Republic of Ireland is in violation of Article 16 of the charter, which guarantees the right of the family to social, legal and economic protection.

Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission board member David Joyce described findings as "significant" and added it was important that the problems were being recognised at a high level in Europe.