Mr John O'Connell, a founding member of the Pavee Point Travellers' centre in Dublin, has died.
Mr O'Connell was the director of Pavee Point, formerly the Dublin Travellers' Education and Development Group.
He had been a member of the National Crime Forum, set up by the Minister for Justice, which held a series of public meetings on crime.
Mr O'Connell was also the Irish representative on the executive of the European Anti-Poverty Network, which represents voluntary agencies in EU countries.
Mr O'Connell died last night in a hospice in Galway, after being ill for about a year.
The former priest is survived by his wife, Ms Anastasia Crickley, and their son, Coilin.
Ms Crickley is the chairwoman of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism.