Results 261-280 of 2,011 for speaker:Frances Black

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Dec 2017)

Frances Black: I want to highlight the issue I raised last week. I was on Molesworth Street a few minutes ago at the peaceful protest by the "My Name Is" campaign around the homelessness situation, at which there was a huge crowd. We really need to look at this issue because people are starting to get tired of the fact they do not see any change. We have to address the issue around homelessness. People...

Seanad: Permanent Structured Cooperation: Statements (13 Dec 2017)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am very concerned about this issue and I completely agree with the concerns raised here today, particularly by Senator Higgins. I firmly believe in Ireland's neutrality, and state in the strongest possible terms that I do not want to see Ireland participating in military schemes such as PESCO. I have listened to the Minister of State, but...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Jan 2018)

Frances Black: I would also like to highlight the audiovisual room event that was on today around the emergency crisis. Even though we all know there is a crisis, it is just shocking to hear the stories. That is what was really most upsetting. I refer in particular to the choice of who can have a bed, whether it be a 90 year-old woman who is very sick with a bad chest infection or a 45 year-old woman who...

Seanad: Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (17 Jan 2018)

Frances Black: I thank the Minister of State for his time today. I would like to welcome the report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution and strongly support the call for the amendment to be repealed. I am deeply saddened by the harm it has done to women in this country since 1983. It is clear that we cannot move forward on this issue until the eighth amendment is removed...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Directives: Minister for Justice and Equality (17 Jan 2018)

Frances Black: There is no doubt that this is a positive step in the right direction albeit we could probably do a good bit more. I do not have a question but I record my slight disappointment that the period from which asylum seekers can work will be set at nine months. The Minister said he wanted to align fully with European norms on this, which is great, but research from the Irish Refugee Council...

Seanad: Reception Conditions Directive: Motion (23 Jan 2018)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. I am really glad that we have been given a chance to debate this issue. The discussion at the meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice and Equality committee last week left several questions unanswered and much more detail is needed on how Ireland will comply in practice with the EU reception conditions directive, particularly the right to...

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Jan 2018)

Frances Black: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 18 be taken before No. 1.

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: First Stage (24 Jan 2018)

Frances Black: I move:That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to give effect to the State’s obligations arising under the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War and under customary international humanitarian law; and for that purpose to make it an offence for a person to import or sell goods or services originating in an occupied...

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: First Stage (24 Jan 2018)

Frances Black: Next Tuesday, 30 January 2018.

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Second Stage (30 Jan 2018)

Frances Black: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am delighted to table the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018. I welcome the Tánaiste to the Chamber to discuss the Bill and thank him for his sincere engagement and input on the legislation to date. I also warmly welcome the Palestinian ambassador, H.E. Ahmed Abdelrazek, and Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, who are...

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (1 Feb 2018)

Frances Black: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (1 Feb 2018)

Frances Black: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Feb 2018)

Frances Black: I have been up North the past two days with the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.We met with community groups there and I was blown away. It was the first time I got a good understanding of what is going on up there as a result of the fact the Stormont Assembly is not sitting. Meeting with community groups was an eye-opener for me, particularly on the issue...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Feb 2018)

Frances Black: I, too, would like to acknowledge the role played by my colleague, Senator Ó Clochartaigh. While he was speaking, I thought back to the first day I arrived in Leinster House for the Seanad elections. I will never forget his warmth and kindness to me. I was very anxious that day, if I remember rightly, and thought I would be out of here in an hour but I was really surprised. His...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Frances Black: I thank Ms Justice Ring for coming before the committee today given the weather. I appreciate her presentation. I picked up on her sense of frustration with the work she is doing. It must be very frustrating. The ombudsman in the North is able to get information and documentation very quickly. It must be very frustrating when GSOC does not get such information. Why does Ms Justice Ring...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Frances Black: Does Ms Justice Ring think, following her experiences of trying to get information, that comes from a place of fear, people not caring or arrogance? Does she think that people are trying to hide something?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Frances Black: Can GSOC go anywhere else for support to try to get information? It is very important, in particular in cases like that of Lucia. Families are impacted and people are anxious and worried. GSOC is trying to do its job and is not getting the information which it needs to determine what is going on. What supports does GSOC have?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Oversight and Accountability: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (28 Feb 2018)

Frances Black: I thank Ms Justice Ring for her responses.

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Mar 2018)

Frances Black: Like many others I am glad to be back in Leinster House after the snow last week. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Taoiseach and his team on how Storm Emma was handled last week. It is hard to get every single detail right in these emergency situations but, credit where credit is due, it was handled very well. As many have said, enormous credit must also go to the...

Seanad: Foreign Affairs: Statements (Resumed) (7 Mar 2018)

Frances Black: I welcome the Tánaiste to the Chamber. I am pleased to see him back in Seanad Éireann. Given the limited time available, I will focus on three specific points. First, as he is aware, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement recently spent two days in Belfast meeting a number of community groups. Such outreach activity is a vital part of...