Results 601-620 of 2,011 for speaker:Frances Black

Seanad: Good Friday Agreement: Motion (10 May 2021)

Frances Black: I warmly welcome the motion before the House. There is no doubt that the Good Friday Agreement was the greatest achievement on this island in the last 100 years. The importance of the Good Friday Agreement and the possibility of constitutional change is being discussed in all quarters for the first time ever and I believe that this is a conversation being led by civil society. Real change...

Seanad: Good Friday Agreement: Motion (10 May 2021)

Frances Black: I move amendment No. 1: To insert the following paragraph after “That Seanad Éireann:” “- acknowledges the need for responsible planning and preparation for possible constitutional change, as anticipated in the Good Friday Agreement, and therefore supports the establishment of an all-island Citizens’ Assembly to discuss options;”

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Future of Ireland: Discussion (11 May 2021)

Frances Black: I must first say a huge thank you to Mr. Lunn and Reverend Karen for coming to the committee today. Listening to them both has been very refreshing and inspiring. Before I make any comments I send out my solidarity to the Ballymurphy families today. I cannot even imagine how they are feeling today, with all of the stress, anxiety and work they have experienced over the past years. I...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Middle East (17 May 2021)

Frances Black: We are on the brink of a full-scale war in Israel and Palestine, with Israel bombing Gaza and Hamas firing rockets. The only way to stop this horrific spiral of violence and displacement is to end Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine and its violent oppression of the Palestinian people. The Government should sanction Israel for breaching international law and committing crimes against...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Middle East (17 May 2021)

Frances Black: I thank the Minister of State. I want to put on the record that I thank the Minister for calling me last night. I know he would have been here this morning if he could have been. I suppose the Minister of State has to understand my frustration. It is very difficult to watch what is happening in Gaza and see children and families being killed. Not only this but their homes are being...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 May 2021)

Frances Black: I thank the Leader for revising today's schedule to allow us to debate the situation in Palestine, which means so much to me. I am completely and utterly exhausted from talking about what is going on. It is just soul-destroying and if I am feeling like that, what must it be like for the people of Palestine? The situation is just horrendous. I raised the issue as a Commencement matter this...

Seanad: Situation in Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel: Statements (17 May 2021)

Frances Black: I wish to share time with my colleague, Senator Higgins.

Seanad: Situation in Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel: Statements (17 May 2021)

Frances Black: I warmly welcome the Minister and thank him for taking this debate. I also thank him for the telephone call I received from him last night. I am aware that he is extremely passionate about this issue and I know it is very close to his heart. I want to tell the Minister about a family in Gaza. Yesterday morning, multiple generations of the al-Kulak family, at least 17 people, were killed....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (Resumed) (18 May 2021)

Frances Black: I will not take up much time because all my questions have been covered. I welcome both Ms O'Donoghue and Mr. Duffy. I thank them very much for coming in and giving us this presentation. I absolutely 100% welcome the shared island dialogue they are having with many diverse groups. It is fantastic and really important to hear experiences and viewpoints from all voices throughout Ireland...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (Resumed) (18 May 2021)

Frances Black: What is Ms O'Donoghue's thinking on the idea of a citizens' assembly? Would the shared island unit consider scoping out how such a body would function on an all-island basis? Is that something Ms O'Donoghue might think about?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Shared Island Unit: Department of the Taoiseach (Resumed) (18 May 2021)

Frances Black: I thank Ms O'Donoghue for all her work.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ventilation and Covid-19: Discussion (19 May 2021)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses for their attendance and for their fantastic presentations, which were so concise and detailed. They were fascinating and it something I was not aware of. I appreciate their highlighting the importance of eliminating infected air with good ventilation. At this stage of the pandemic, when everyone is exhausted after lockdown and after a long, tough winter, many...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ventilation and Covid-19: Discussion (19 May 2021)

Frances Black: I believe it would save lives. The committee might need to consider publishing a report, as we did with the report on vitamin D we produced a few months ago, to highlight the importance of this issue.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 May 2021)

Frances Black: I commend Senator O'Donovan on highlighting the issue he raised. I have a family member in his position, so I understand the devastating impact of the condition. On Wednesday last, I attended a powerful Oireachtas briefing with Relatives for Justice on the tragic killing of two schoolboys, Gavin McShane and Shane McArdle, in 1994. They were murdered by an unmasked gunman while they played...

Seanad: Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (24 May 2021)

Frances Black: I am sharing time with my colleague, Senator Higgins. I will take two minutes and she will have three. The Minister is very welcome. I commend him on all the phenomenal work that he has done on the vaccine. I was in and out myself in half an hour, which was brilliant. I thank the Minister for that. I co-signed some of the amendments tabled to this Bill by Senator Higgins with my...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Ireland's Future (1 Jun 2021)

Frances Black: I thank the committee for allowing me to contribute first. Unfortunately, I must leave around 10.40 a.m. to attend a meeting of another committee of which I am Chair. I thank Mr. Murphy for his presentation. It is difficult to speak on one's own and not have the support of Ms Harmon. It is a pity we lost her due to technology problems. I work with Ireland's Future and Mr. Murphy and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Engagement with Ireland's Future (1 Jun 2021)

Frances Black: I do not know whether I have any more time.