Results 1-20 of 89 for going forward speaker:Frances Black

Seanad: Loneliness: Motion (1 May 2024)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and wish him well going forward in his new position. I also thank the Green Party Senators for using their Private Members' time to table this important and timely motion. The results of the European Commission's research report, which shows that Ireland is the loneliest country in the EU, are honestly really shocking. They run contrary to...

Seanad: Flooding on Lough Funshinagh: Statements (30 Apr 2024)

Frances Black: ...to issues as they arise. That is why I am here today. We need to have joined-up, long-term thinking to prevent people having to leave their homes in a crisis like this. The idea that was put forward by Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice for an emergency order to be signed is absolutely vital at this point. It will require the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach along with the Minister for the...

Seanad: Private Rental Sector: Motion (6 Mar 2024)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I too thank the Sinn Féin Senators for bringing forward this motion, and I am very happy to support it. There is no doubt about it: we all know what a disaster the housing market is and the catastrophic impact it is having on so many people's lives. I think every single person in this Chamber would personally know many young families who...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: The Future of Local Democracy: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Feb 2024)

Frances Black: ...I have travelled throughout the country to meet with councillors. They are out on their own as regards the volume of work they do. I want to thank Deputy Howlin in particular and to wish him well going forward. I also thank him for his detailed and candid opening statement. His reflection on the negative implications the abolition of town councils has had is really valuable. I have to...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: The Future of Local Democracy: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Feb 2024)

Frances Black: ...Councillors must take on an ever-increasing amount of work these days and familiarise themselves with increasingly complex issues. Do they think secretarial support and policy advice would help them going forward with all of the amazing work that they do?

Seanad: Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2024)

Frances Black: ...is never experienced by any of the brave and committed people who seek to serve their country and communities by joining the Defence Forces in future. I am glad that a tribunal of inquiry is going to take place, even though I share the frustration of many of the survivors of the abuse that this step was not taken sooner. Reading the report from the independent review group on the dignity...

Seanad: Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: ...and persistence have helped get us through to this crucial stage. I also commend the Minister on his work on it. Senator Gavan deserves the utmost credit for working with activists to bring forward the Private Members' Bill on this issue, which advanced the issue considerably. In 2018, the public voted to repeal the eighth amendment and they did so on the basis that it would be free,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: ...? I would like to hear a little more about this when it comes to the legacy Bill. It is important for us. It means those of us here in Dublin have to put even greater pressure on the Government going forward. Will Professor Rolston say a little more about this?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: ...those families. He is doing phenomenal work. I hope he can be heard today. As he knows, I am an Independent in Leinster House. I hope the Government can hear what he is calling for. It is vital going forward. I shudder to think what will happen if the Government does not take an interstate case.

Committee on Mental Health: Mental Health Care for Migrants and Ethnic Minorities: Discussion (7 Nov 2023)

Frances Black: ...of information. I cannot thank them enough for coming in. In particular, I again thank them for the amazing work they do. It would be brilliant to see an integrated, cross-departmental approach going forward. That would probably work so well, not just in this area but in so many other areas as well. I thank all the witnesses from Mental Health Reform, Doras, AkiDwA and Pavee Point for...

Seanad: Control of Exports Bill 2023: Committee Stage (11 Oct 2023)

Frances Black: ...not just concerned with whether we are meeting obligations under the EU directive but rather it is legislation that ensures we are not inadvertently enabling violence towards occupied peoples and escalation of military conflicts.I hope that going forward we can work with the Minister of State on this issue. I would really appreciate that.

Seanad: Rights-Based Care Economy: Motion (27 Sep 2023)

Frances Black: ...State provision. When you think about it, the work done by carers in the home saves the State billions and prevents the inadequately resourced long-term care system from collapse. Successive Governments have heaped praise on carers and have acknowledged the love they give and the sacrifices they make but they have not adequately compensated and supported them. This motion outlines...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Jun 2023)

Frances Black: ...it comes back in. It is vital that she considers this for this Bill. How many people will be impacted while they are waiting for the next Bill to come through? How long will it take for us to go forward working on this? That is key to this. I ask her to reconsider. I would like to chat with her about it because if this is done now in this Bill, it could save lives. I want her to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implementation of Sláintecare Reforms: Department of Health and HSE (Resumed) (14 Jun 2023)

Frances Black: I agree that, going forward, it will be very challenging. My concern is that we ensure that mental healthcare has a solid foundation in the RHA structure from the get-go and that it is constantly there. My hope is that the work we do on the Sub-Committee on Mental Health can support the HSE on that in some way. Many key areas of the Government's mental health policy, such as dual...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Implementation of Sláintecare Reforms: Department of Health and HSE (Resumed) (14 Jun 2023)

Frances Black: ...could be brought in as well. A lot of people who might have mental health issues or addiction issues can be connected in a very powerful way. I just want to thank Mr. Gloster. I wish him well going forward in the work he is doing. We will certainly keep in touch on mental health.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: HSE National Service Plan 2023: Discussion (24 May 2023)

Frances Black: I thank all the witnesses. I wish Mr. Gloster well going forward because he has a lot of very hard work to do and I do not envy him, that is for sure. The area I would like to speak about is around mental health. This might be an odd question to ask and I hope Mr. Gloster does not mind me asking it, but will he say a little about the importance of mental health services going forward...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (28 Mar 2023)

Frances Black: I welcome this Bill and congratulate the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, in the strongest possible terms. It is an unalloyed piece of good news and it is important we celebrate these positive developments that everyone in the Chamber can get behind. Hospital charges for public patients undermined the entire philosophy of the public provision of healthcare and the €800...

Seanad: Welfare and Safety of Workers in the Public Health Service: Motion (22 Feb 2023)

Frances Black: ...failure to protect these vulnerable workers then becomes a powerful push factor which results in people leaving because the feel undervalued and unsafe. We need to break the cycle if we are ever going to resolve the perpetual dysfunction in our healthcare system. Ensuring medical settings have adequate security is the bare minimum. There should be security guards on-site at all times...

Seanad: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Statements (1 Feb 2023)

Frances Black: ...without proper medical monitoring, and the chaotic record-keeping and case management procedures that are exacerbating a crisis caused by persistent staffing shortages and chronic failures in governance. It paints an unbelievably grim picture. Imagine how you would feel if it were your child. It is devastating to think your child would not get the services he or she needs. This crisis...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Treatment Services: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Frances Black: ...the conditions are not right within the work environment, there could be a lot of burnout and staff could be lost that way as well. That might be something that could be taken into consideration going forward.