Results 1,221-1,240 of 2,011 for speaker:Frances Black

Joint Committee On Health: Issues Relating to Perinatal Mental Health: Discussion (18 Oct 2022)

Frances Black: Sure.

Joint Committee On Health: Issues Relating to Perinatal Mental Health: Discussion (18 Oct 2022)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses. After listening to them all speak today, I feel our perinatal services are in very good hands. If only the practitioners could get exactly what they are looking for, we could definitely be one of the leading countries in the world in perinatal services, as Deputy Ward said. I feel our perinatal services are in very safe hands. I thank the witnesses for their passion...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Frances Black: I welcome all the witnesses. I thank them for the work they are doing on this legislation, which I fully support.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Frances Black: Yes, I am here in Leinster House.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Frances Black: Many of the questions I was going to ask have been covered. I just want to echo what others have said about the urgency of progressing this legislation, especially as expressed in many of the submissions received. I refer to the frequency of anti-abortion protests in Ireland and the major negative effects this has had on pregnant people. I might have missed parts of this morning's meeting,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Frances Black: No. I would just like the witnesses to elaborate on how the Department envisages the safe access zones will work and how they will be policed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Regional Health Areas Advisory Group (26 Oct 2022)

Frances Black: I thank Mr. Kearns for the work he is doing. I agree with his opening statement which is a breath of fresh air. It is vital that significant time and resourcing are given for the RHAs to be successfully implemented. I ask Mr. Kearns to forgive me if these questions have been asked; I arrived late to the meeting. We all know the extreme pressure that was placed on healthcare workers...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Regional Health Areas Advisory Group (26 Oct 2022)

Frances Black: I totally agree with Mr. Kearns. For a great many people who work in this area, it is a vocation and they are passionate about what they do. Does Mr. Kearns think that this should be the first step? It is a huge piece of work, which he has just explained very clearly. Does he think that it should be a priority? What is the first step? I can only imagine what it must be like for people...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Regional Health Areas Advisory Group (26 Oct 2022)

Frances Black: Everything.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Regional Health Areas Advisory Group (26 Oct 2022)

Frances Black: Mr. Kearns is right. There are so many crises going on that it can be a bit difficult for people even to look at this. Have I time for one more question, Vice Chair?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Sláintecare Implementation: Regional Health Areas Advisory Group (26 Oct 2022)

Frances Black: It is about mental health. Given that more than 40% of Irish adults have a mental health disorder, there is no doubt but that demand for adequate mental health services is to be predicted for each RHA. The population-based approach seems absolutely rational, but is the advisory group giving any thought to a demographic-based approach? Some parts of Dublin, for example, straddle three...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Other Voices on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Dr. Stephen Farry (14 Oct 2022)

Frances Black: I really appreciate the witnesses coming in today. It is great to see them here. Dr. Farry and I have worked together on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. It is fantastic that he is here today. I am really glad that the whole day has been devoted to hearing from non-nationalist witnesses, and I am particularly glad that we are recognising...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Other Voices on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Unionist Community (14 Oct 2022)

Frances Black: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Housing for All: Statements (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Like my colleagues who spoke before me, I would love to see Housing for All work. I believe the housing crisis is probably the largest single failure of the modern Irish State. It is difficult to speak about it because it feels as if we are in a state of perpetual dysfunction. The debate in this House can sometimes feel a bit like a stage play...

Seanad: Safe to Create Programme: Statements (9 Nov 2022)

Frances Black: I warmly welcome the Minister to the Chamber. I agree with my colleague regarding disabled artists and it would be great if we could start up the conversation around getting those extra supports. I am really pleased to be able to speak on this incredibly important issue. I pay tribute to the incredible creative activists who brought this issue to the public's attention. Theirs is a...

Seanad: Safe to Create Programme: Statements (9 Nov 2022)

Frances Black: As a woman, a musician and a politician, the stories that have come out about the harassment, bullying and mistreatment have had a deep impact on me. I am thankful I never experienced abusive treatment during my own music career. I was surrounded by many caring and protective people, including members of my family. I felt very safe but it is sad to say I was probably one of the lucky ones....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Architects of the Good Friday Agreement (Resumed): Senator George J. Mitchell (27 Oct 2022)

Frances Black: Thank you very much for that introduction, Chair. It truly is an honour to meet Senator Mitchell today, even though it is online. He has been an inspiration to many for many years. I say a huge thank you to him for all the work he has done on the Good Friday Agreement. I met him a few years ago through Jim Zogby in Washington. Again, it was only online, but I hope some day to meet him in...