Results 1,581-1,600 of 2,011 for speaker:Frances Black

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (5 Jul 2023)

Frances Black: This amendment seeks to insert a new offence in the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 modelled on the existing coercive control offence in the Domestic Violence Act 2018. However, this new offence would apply to everyone - not just intimate partners. People working with people at risk of abuse, coercion and exploitation understand that coercive control does not just happen in...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (5 Jul 2023)

Frances Black: I accept why the Minister cannot accept this amendment today and I look forward to working with her along with Safeguarding Ireland and other organisations.The only thing I ask is time. We really need to do it sooner rather than later, and I do not want it to be delayed like the adult safeguarding legislation has been delayed. There are huge concerns and more and more people are being hurt,...

Seanad: Ban on Dumping New Products Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Jul 2023)

Frances Black: I am very pleased to be here to support the Bill on behalf of the Civil Engagement Group. I thank Sinn Féin for introducing this important and thoughtful legislation. I commend Senator Boylan on all the work she and her team have done on it. Politicians like Senator Boylan, my colleague, Senator Higgins, and Deputy Bríd Smith are doing very important work to highlight that...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jul 2023)

Frances Black: At the start of this final week, and because I am not going to be here tomorrow or Thursday, I want to express my gratitude to all of the workers who make this place run so smoothly, including Martin Groves and his team, and others. We are very fortunate to have such talented and diligent people working to facilitate our legislative process. I hope the recess is restful and restorative for...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Sep 2023)

Frances Black: It is good to be back. I hope everyone had a restful and restorative recess. I also wish the superintendent, Barry Ryan, good luck on behalf of the Civil Engagement Group. I wish him well in the new role. He did a great job last Wednesday, by the way. I had to say that. I offer my deepest condolences to all the Fianna Fáil group on the passing of Councillor Damien O'Reilly, as well...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Sep 2023)

Frances Black: I apologise for the delay. I spoke yesterday about underpaid childcare workers and today I am going to speak about underpaid criminal barristers. Senator McDowell might have an interest in this-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Sep 2023)

Frances Black: -----as will Senator Ward.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Sep 2023)

Frances Black: In any case, they are quite different jobs but they are both essential roles that are going unfilled because of inadequate pay. Ireland is a very expensive place to live and public services and essential social functions are becoming increasingly strained because the people providing them are not being paid enough. Next week, on 3 October, members of the Irish Criminal Bar Association will...

Seanad: Rights-Based Care Economy: Motion (27 Sep 2023)

Frances Black: I too am very pleased to support this motion on behalf of the Civil Engagement Group. I am grateful to Senator O'Loughlin and the Irish Women's Parliamentary Caucus for producing such an expansive and detailed motion about such a timely and important set of interlocking issues. There is no doubt but that this motion addresses gender equality, social justice, disability rights, the politics...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Sláintecare Reforms (27 Sep 2023)

Frances Black: I have only one or two questions. I will try to keep my contribution short. I am happy to see the workforce has increased by 19% since the end of August. It is powerful to hear that all categories are ahead of target. That represents numbers within the HSE and section 38 agencies. Will the witnesses provide a percentage for the workforce within the mental health sector?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Sláintecare Reforms (27 Sep 2023)

Frances Black: Would that be okay?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Sláintecare Reforms (27 Sep 2023)

Frances Black: If Ms Hoey could send me some detail in that regard, it would be helpful. With regard to the public only consultants contract, POCC, it was reported previously that over 50% of Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, consultants would not switch and over 60% of junior doctors said they would not take up the contract. Since then, have prospects improved? I apologise if that question has already...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Sláintecare Reforms (27 Sep 2023)

Frances Black: With regard to extending services to seven days, Mr. Gloster said in his opening statement that engagement has commenced. People are left waiting over the weekend to access the likes of psychiatry, psychology and counselling services, which are critical supports. These are our most vulnerable people and they cannot afford to wait over the weekend in the hope of securing an appointment early...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Oct 2023)

Frances Black: I thank the Cathaoirleach. As others have said, what is happening in Palestine and Israel right now is absolutely heartbreaking. I extend heartfelt condolences to all the Israeli and Palestinian people who have lost loved ones. Thousands are dead and many more will likely die in the coming days and weeks. If we want this cycle of violence and repression to end, we need to understand and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Oct 2023)

Frances Black: I want to talk about two brilliant and kind young women, two wonderful sisters who have worked in the Oireachtas. Yara Alagha used to work for the Civil Engagement Group and her sister Lara still works for the Green Party. This morning ten members of the Alagha family were killed by an Israeli bombing of their house in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip. I am trying not to get emotional and I...

Seanad: Control of Exports Bill 2023: Committee Stage (11 Oct 2023)

Frances Black: I move amendment No. 1: In page 8, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following: “ “automated means” means the use of any algorithm, recommender system, or other automated system which uses data processing, machine learning, or other artificial intelligence techniques to make decisions or suggest information to users;”. I welcome the Minister of State to...

Seanad: Control of Exports Bill 2023: Committee Stage (11 Oct 2023)

Frances Black: I am disappointed to hear the Minister of State will not be accepting our amendments. This is a human rights issue. The Minister of State has heard many of the people I have spoken about speak on the issue. It is worrying. Ireland should not allow the export of such items or their transfer through this State because of those human rights issues. I am disappointed to hear the Minister of...

Seanad: Control of Exports Bill 2023: Committee Stage (11 Oct 2023)

Frances Black: I move amendment No. 3: In page 8, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: “ “Convention” means the Convention on Cluster Munitions adopted in Dublin in May 2008 which Ireland is party to;”. This set of amendments relates to Ireland's international obligations as a party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Ireland played a key role in the...

Seanad: Control of Exports Bill 2023: Committee Stage (11 Oct 2023)

Frances Black: I look forward to engaging with the Minister of State on this.

Seanad: Control of Exports Bill 2023: Committee Stage (11 Oct 2023)

Frances Black: I move amendment No. 5: In page 11, between lines 5 and 6, to insert the following: “ “relevant occupied territory” means a territory which is occupied within the meaning of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and which has been— (a) confirmed as such in a decision or advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, (b) confirmed as such in a decision of the...