Results 1,281-1,300 of 2,011 for speaker:Frances Black

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report Stage (29 Nov 2022)

Frances Black: Those who campaigned for this legislation specifically argued that a comprehensive review clause was necessary to ensure that the legislation remained under review at regular intervals, given the pace of change in this area globally and advances in practice on the ground. We recommend adding a further provision to ensure that the legislation is reviewed at least once every three years. As...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report Stage (29 Nov 2022)

Frances Black: I move amendment No. 27: In page 86, line 4, to delete “2006;”,” and substitute the following: “2006; (hb) in the performance of its functions as the independent monitoring mechanism under the Convention, to ensure extensive and meaningful engagement with all persons with disabilities in the State, in accordance with Articles 1,...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report Stage (29 Nov 2022)

Frances Black: I thank the Minister for considering the amendment we brought on Committee Stage with regard to the proportion of positions on the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission's, IHREC, disability advisory board reserved for people with disabilities. The amendment seeks to use the UNCRPD definition of "disability" for the criteria of membership of IHREC's disability advisory committee rather...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report Stage (29 Nov 2022)

Frances Black: I move amendment No. 28: In page 86, line 17, to delete “at least half” and substitute “two-thirds”.

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report Stage (29 Nov 2022)

Frances Black: I move amendment No. 30: In page 86, lines 18 and 19, to delete all words from and including “have,” in line 18 down to and including line 19 and substitute the following: “be persons with disabilities within the meaning of Article 1, United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.”.”.

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report Stage (29 Nov 2022)

Frances Black: I just want to say well done to the Minister. He worked very hard on this and took it very seriously. We did not agree on a few things but his engagement and communication with us was appreciated. I again thank him and his officials. I also thank all the campaigners who worked extremely hard on this and are very passionate about this Bill. I mentioned them earlier but I would refer again...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Amendment) Bill 2022: Department of Health (23 Nov 2022)

Frances Black: I apologise. I have only just gotten into Leinster House and I think some of the questions I had have already been covered. I will follow up on one or two. I thank our witnesses for coming in this morning. The purpose of this Bill in driving service improvement for the service user is very much appreciated. I have no doubt about it, considering what has been going on in recent years. In...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Amendment) Bill 2022: Department of Health (23 Nov 2022)

Frances Black: My next point is on adult safeguarding. I am very glad adult safeguarding has come up this morning. It is a considerably important issue and, unfortunately, in recent years it has received insufficient attention. There is considerable urgency to it. I know my colleague, former Senator, Colette Kelleher - is she still there or have we lost her?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Amendment) Bill 2022: Department of Health (23 Nov 2022)

Frances Black: I apologise. Something came up on my computer. Ms Kelleher introduced legislation in 2017 which unfortunately stalled on Committee Stage because the Government said it would undertake the work necessary to produce its own legislation. It seems that work is under way but do the witnesses have any idea of the timeline for when the heads of Bill will be published? That would be very helpful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Amendment) Bill 2022: Department of Health (23 Nov 2022)

Frances Black: Is the Law Reform Commission working on the policy? I am aware it had started the work in early spring and said it would have some of the work in by the summer. I feel there is a bit of a delay on it. Does Ms Larthwell have any information on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Amendment) Bill 2022: Department of Health (23 Nov 2022)

Frances Black: That would be very helpful. I would appreciate that.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Dec 2022)

Frances Black: I just want to congratulate Al-Haq, Palestine’s premier human rights organisation, for the launch of its new report entitled Israeli Apartheid. It truly is an expansive and rigorous piece of research. Some of its authors are legal academics from National University of Ireland, Galway, NUIG. It is the latest in a series of reports from Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Dec 2022)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister. I am disappointed that, once again, right before recess, the Government is rushing legislation through this House with no regard for proper parliamentary process or legislative scrutiny. That is disrespectful in the context of how our parliamentary democracy should function. I urge all Members to reflect on the fact that our constitutional role and mandate here are...

Joint Committee On Health: Business of Joint Committee (6 Dec 2022)

Frances Black: Before we get to the main item of today's agenda, the minutes of the meeting on 18 October and 22 November 2022 have been circulated to members for consideration. Are they agreed? Agreed.

Joint Committee On Health: People Detained in Secure Forensic Mental Health Facilities: Discussion (6 Dec 2022)

Frances Black: We will begin our consideration of the report by the Irish Penal Reform Trust, IPRT, on access to rights for people who are detained in secure forensic mental health facilities. The purpose of this meeting is for the sub-committee to discuss the report of the IPRT on access to rights for people who are detained in secure forensic mental health facilities. To enable to the sub-committee to...

Joint Committee On Health: People Detained in Secure Forensic Mental Health Facilities: Discussion (6 Dec 2022)

Frances Black: I thank Ms Joyce and the first speaker is Deputy Ward from Sinn Féin.

Joint Committee On Health: People Detained in Secure Forensic Mental Health Facilities: Discussion (6 Dec 2022)

Frances Black: I thank Deputy Ward. The next speaker is Deputy Hourigan from the Green Party.

Joint Committee On Health: People Detained in Secure Forensic Mental Health Facilities: Discussion (6 Dec 2022)

Frances Black: Does Ms Ní Chaoimh want to come in there? Is there anything she wants to follow up on?

Joint Committee On Health: People Detained in Secure Forensic Mental Health Facilities: Discussion (6 Dec 2022)

Frances Black: As no other witnesses wish to respond, I will put a few questions. First, I thank them for their phenomenal work on human rights and for being a voice for the people concerned. It is quite moving that they are giving a voice to those who have none. I thank them sincerely for that. What legal aid provision are CMH residents entitled to and how does it compare with what is available to...

Joint Committee On Health: People Detained in Secure Forensic Mental Health Facilities: Discussion (6 Dec 2022)

Frances Black: We hear a lot at this sub-committee and at the health committee about staffing issues. Do the witnesses have any information on staffing levels at the Central Mental Hospital and whether they are adequate?