Results 2,001-2,020 of 2,038 for speaker:Frances Black

Seanad: Situation in Gaza: Statements (29 May 2025)

Frances Black: I will share time with my colleague Senator Higgins. The Minister of State is very welcome to the House today. I welcome the Cathaoirleach of the foreign affairs committee, Deputy John Lahart, here as well. For over a year and a half, we have been confronted with scenes in Gaza that are so horrific that they haunt us long after our screens go dark. Only this week, we saw the devastating...

Seanad: Situation in Gaza: Statements (29 May 2025)

Frances Black: They are legally binding, though. It is just a matter of accepting that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee (27 May 2025)

Frances Black: I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his new role-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee (27 May 2025)

Frances Black: -----and I look forward to working with him and his officials. For the whole committee, this is a very important piece of work going forward. I agree with all of the suggestions made here this morning. They are all really inspirational, to be honest. I really liked what Deputy Tóibín said about legacy and the interstate case. That is really important going forward. I also...

Seanad: Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Frances Black: I move amendment No. 39: In page 6, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following: “Legal continuity 9. (1) The amendments made by this Act shall not affect the validity of any proceedings, whether pending or completed, or any investigation, prosecution, conviction, sentence, order, requirement or obligation made, imposed, issued or otherwise undertaken before the commencement...

Seanad: Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Frances Black: Am I hearing the Minister of State right in that he is not accepting the amendment?

Seanad: Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Frances Black: The amendment seeks to preserve the validity of forensic reports and expert opinions. It avoids delays in trials caused by re-examining evidence, with no extra resources required for evidence management. It also protects the work of technical and digital forensic teams. It would serve to maintain confidence in the justice process, having been drafted with input from forensic and legal...

Seanad: Nursing Homes and Care for Older Persons: Statements (26 Jun 2025)

Frances Black: The Minister of State is very welcome to the Chamber today. I thank him for being here to discuss this very important issue. We have a collective responsibility to safeguard the safety, dignity and well-being of older citizens, particularly those in nursing homes and care settings across Ireland. It is a matter of profound importance. As recent events have laid bare, we all know there is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025 (1 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: I will pass over to Senator Michael McDowell, if that is okay, and come back in after him.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025 (1 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: Mr. Smyth and Mr. Keown are both very welcome. As they are probably aware, the Tánaiste has said publicly that the Government is willing to include services in this final Bill if we get the detail right. I am 100% certain that we can do so. Inserting services is absolutely crucial and there is no legal barrier to doing it. I have published detailed legal advice from some of the most...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025 (1 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: The reality is that when one looks at the legal details, the three top lawyers who will come before this committee next week are saying that we can do this. In his personal opinion, does Mr. Smyth think it is possible to do from a legal perspective?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: I thank the Cathaoirleach. I was very encouraged yesterday by the very diplomatic and constructive discussions among members yesterday when I was at the meeting. It was lovely to see and I thank members for that. I thank the committee for the opportunity to speak today. This is a really significant moment and it is one I want to recognise and strongly welcome. I have been working on this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: There is no doubt about it. I have been amazed at the interest in this Bill from countries all over the world. I have been invited to speak about this legislation in many parliaments. I was in Norway a few years back and I was invited to speak about it in Parliament in Chile a few years ago. In fact, just this year, Chile announced that it is bringing in its own version of this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: Does Mr. O'Neill wish to come in on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: I would welcome a legal challenge to be honest because I believe we would win. It is as simple as that. I have no doubt that this is the right thing to do. We have unbelievable legal advice and we have had unbelievable opinions from the top legal people in the world on this issue. I feel very strongly that if we were challenged on this there is 100% no doubt that we would win.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: Three months would probably be a relatively good time for businesses for run-off time. That would give them plenty of time for this. I will hand over the second question to Mr. O'Neill.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: We know what is happening. I was in the West Bank back in 2018 just before I introduced this Bill. Obviously we introduced it for all occupied territories, all illegal occupied territories, and all illegal settlements in any occupied territory. What I saw with my own eyes when I was in the West Bank was pretty horrendous. I saw how people's lands, houses and farm lands were taken off them...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: When I had the conversations with the Tánaiste he said if we got the legal detail right he would be willing to accept services and I am very hopeful about that. I genuinely believe we will get the legal detail right. I am really looking forward to seeing what the Attorney General’s advice is. I hope it is sooner rather than later. I would love for the committee to consider...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: I am hopeful for the people of Palestine. I can only go back to the experiences I had in Palestine when I was at the border protest in May 2018 when a young child looked into my eyes and said to me “Why does nobody care about us?” They are the things that keep me going. I still think of those children who were at the border protest. I took photographs of their beautiful...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: No.