Results 141-160 of 1,855 for speaker:Frances Black

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with Mr. Eamon Gilmore (11 May 2017)

Frances Black: I thank Mr. Gilmore for attending the committee today. I really appreciate the amount of work he has put into the presentation, which was clear and precise. My father came from Rathlin Island which is off the north Antrim coast. I have very clear memories of going through the Border as a child. It was traumatic to see army men with guns and I would always ask why they were there. It was...

Seanad: Migrant Integration Strategy: Statements (16 May 2017)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister of State back to the Chamber to discuss Ireland’s migrant integration strategy. It is something that is very close to my heart and I welcome the initiative. As we know, Ireland is an increasingly diverse country. CSO data from 2016 show that roughly one in ten people living here define as non-Irish, while last year saw net inward migration to the State for the...

Seanad: Migrant Integration Strategy: Statements (16 May 2017)

Frances Black: Economic integration is an essential precursor to real integration for migrants. This situation cannot continue. I urge the State and the Minister of State to work closely with civil society organisations like the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, the Irish Refugee Council and the Immigrant Council of Ireland. I thank the Acting Chairman and I apologise for going over time.

Seanad: Order of Business (17 May 2017)

Frances Black: I express sadness on the death of the late journalist, Dara Quigley, who took her life on 12 April, five days after she had been detained by gardaí under the Mental Health Act. We all know that a Garda video of her detention was posted on Facebook shortly before Ms Quigley's death. Her family recently said their distress had been compounded by the publication of her name on many...

Seanad: Second Interim Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters: Statements (17 May 2017)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister and her officials to the Chamber. I am very pleased this debate is taking place today as it is long overdue. I welcome the commitments to offer support and services to people who were resident in the homes, in particular in the areas of health and well-being. It is vital that the State has a clear duty in that regard, and we need to ensure proper support is provided....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Voting Rights in Northern Ireland: Discussion (18 May 2017)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses for the presentation. I agree that it is a reasonable constitutional step to take. I have two brothers who live in San Francisco, and they may as well be living in Ireland because they are involved with the GAA and listen to Irish radio stations. They would love to be able to vote. I worked with a man from Boston who was able to vote in the American presidential...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with Representatives of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association and Alliance of Racing and Breeding (18 May 2017)

Frances Black: I thank Mr. O'Dwyer for his presentation. I do not have a great understanding of the horse racing industry apart from going to the races. Obviously I am aware of the beauty of these incredible animals. I echo Senator Paul Daly's concern about the priority of horse racing in Mrs. May's list. The reality of going through borders, particularly from North to South would be very worrying for...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with Macra na Feirme and the Irish Farmers Association (18 May 2017)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I am not involved in farming myself but my father was born on a farm and my cousin still runs a farm. I would have spent a lot of time on the farm and understand the complexities of farming. I also understand how hard it is for farmers, particularly those with small holdings. I can only imagine the anxiety and stress that they are under at...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with Border Communities Against Brexit (25 May 2017)

Frances Black: I will be brief. The witnesses' presentation was excellent, very clear and precise. Obviously, I am very concerned and really pick up on the anxieties. It is very scary - terrifying actually - particularly when I hear that Westminster is out of its depth and does not know what is going on or how to deal with it. That really concerns me. The fact that I am not sure that Northern Ireland...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with Dr. Duncan Morrow (25 May 2017)

Frances Black: I thank Dr. Morrow for his presentation. I totally agree that the key issues regarding the Agreement must include the nature of the Border, its management and the future competences of the three strands within the Agreement - citizenship, rights and equality. The latter are so important, as are trade, economic relations and support for reconciliation. In Dr. Morrow's experience, what is...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 May 2017)

Frances Black: I listened to Dr. Geoffrey Shannon earlier talk about the findings in his report, which are devastating. The entire country is impacted by what we heard. While the report as a whole is harrowing, I was particularly struck by the clear focus on alcohol abuse in Ireland and how it impacts on child welfare. It is time that we started to talk about it.It states that in a significant number of...

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2016: Second Stage (30 May 2017)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber today and thank her for the opportunity to discuss the Bill. I support its passage to Committee Stage but there is considerable work to be done on it. The issue should be approached bearing in mind the basic principle that people are innocent until proven guilty, which is a fundamental bedrock of our legal system. As such, the decision to refuse...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 May 2017)

Frances Black: Yesterday, I was delighted to hear the Supreme Court's unanimous ruling that the policy of banning asylum seekers from working was unconstitutional. This is a landmark decision with major implications for how we treat asylum seekers in this country. I have raised it here before and human rights organisations have been saying it for years but the system of direct provision is a disgrace. We...

Seanad: Report on Use of Section 12 of Child Care Act by An Garda Síochána: Statements (31 May 2017)

Frances Black: I warmly welcome the Minister to the Chamber. I am aware that this is as devastating for her as it is for the rest of us. I know she is a very compassionate person who cares a lot about children. I have no doubt she is doing her best to change the situation, particularly in regard to this report. It is devastating. Like my colleague, I am deeply saddened by what I have heard. In fact,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Implications of Brexit for the Environment: Discussion (1 Jun 2017)

Frances Black: I thank the delegates for their attendance. Both Brexit and climate change are very worrying issues. I have a special connection to the North because my father comes from Rathlin Island. I am very conscious of all of the work in which the delegates are involved in the RSPB, the National Trust and farming and I have strong connections to all of it. This should be a priority in the Brexit...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Implications of Brexit for the Environment: Discussion (1 Jun 2017)

Frances Black: That would be great. I know time is a problem but if the delegates could even give me a written submission, I could certainly put it in for the report.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: General Scheme of Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Presidential Voting) Bill 2014 [Private Members']: Discussion (1 Jun 2017)

Frances Black: I thank Deputies Crowe and Adams for their presentations. I, too, attend today to support this important legislation. Senator Billy Lawless lives for part of the year in the United States where he works with members of the Irish diaspora, many of whom are struggling. He understands the issues that arise in this regard. I know from family living in the North that the rights conferred under...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on Relations between the State and Northern Ireland (1 Jun 2017)

Frances Black: I thank Dr. Murphy for her excellent presentation. Even though when one paints a picture it can be quite bleak, hers was a very positive and hopeful presentation. If we take on what she said and it all worked out, it could be almost historic. I am mindful that the breakdown in trust between the two parties is very difficult. It is hard to even think about how that trust will come back....

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on the Future of the European Union (7 Jun 2017)

Frances Black: I thank Mr. Cox for his fantastic presentation. He is a wealth of knowledge. We have been sitting here for the last few weeks. Many groups have come . Different organisations, businesses and the agriculture industry have come in and their biggest fear has been the hard border and how shocking it would be. I also fear a hard border. I hear what Mr. Cox is saying about Theresa May and how...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with Local Authorities (7 Jun 2017)

Frances Black: It was powerful to listen to the presentations. I was quite moved by the feeling of unity, particularly among the Border communities. As one Senator said, it is the first time one can feel that sense of unity and power in numbers. As the Acting Chairmanl noted, we are members of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. If any of the representatives want us...