Results 161-180 of 1,853 for speaker:Frances Black

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Frances Black: I would like to highlight the pre-budget submission published by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul earlier. I attended the launch of the submission and while I should not be shocked, I was. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an amazing organisation, which has helped many people in need through the Famine, the War of Independence, Civil War, two world wars and several economic...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Jun 2017)

Frances Black: I support my colleagues, Senators Alice Mary Higgins and Lynn Ruane, in proposing these amendments, which are related to the post-adoption supports available to parents and adopted children. Often we see informal arrangements put in place between new adoptive parents and birth parents. This should always be driven by what is in the best interests of the child. However, these arrangements...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Data Protection Bill 2017: Discussion (14 Jun 2017)

Frances Black: I thank Ms Dixon for her very clear and precise presentation. This is not an area I am familiar with, and I appreciate her coming in today to give a good explanation of what it is all about. I think the legislation is very positive. I imagine it is also a minefield. What does Ms Dixon think are going to be issues? Resources are obviously one. What other challenges does she think there...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: Yesterday evening I had the pleasure as the chair of the cross-party Oireachtas Friends of Palestine committee to be present in the audiovisual room to watch one of the most powerful and upsetting films I have ever seen, entitled "This is Palestine". Directors John and Gerry McColgan, working alongside Trócaire, have produced a great piece of work showing the everyday lives of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Data Protection Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: I thank Dr. Shannon. He is a breath of fresh air at last. I will refer to the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill because Dr. Shannon referred to it, and I thank him for that. At last, I feel that somebody else is being a voice for children and families who have been impacted and devastated by alcohol and Ireland's unhealthy relationship with alcohol. To refer back to the data protection...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: I appreciate the outstanding work the witnesses do. There seems to be a lot of firefighting and it must be very difficult without the supports. There will obviously be burnout and this is a particular problem when one works with children. I want to get the opinions of witnesses on what Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, the Government special rapporteur for child protection, said a couple of weeks ago.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: I am looking for answers. The biggest challenge facing society is the adverse consequences for the welfare of many children posed by alcohol. Drug and alcohol abuse are key features in this report and they have a damaging effect on children. The failure by society to address alcohol as a fundamental problem places insurmountable problems on the child protection system. It is not just...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: I wish to offer condolences on the passing away of the little two year old boy, to his mother and to the family. It is devastating. I want to speak today on the broadcasting of our national games. One of the great organisations in the State is the GAA. The pleasure given to the population from wonderful hurling and football matches is immense. When a county is doing well, the mood of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: I was going to second it before the end of the Order of Business.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: I was not aware of that.

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: I agree with my colleague, Senator Ó Clochartaigh, on the current homelessness situation. Last night I was very upset by seeing on Twitter a young child talking about what it was like for her to experience homelessness. It was heartbreaking to see and this is one of the reasons I welcome this report. There is huge injustice in this country today. This is one of the wealthiest...

Seanad: International Protection (Family Reunification) (Amendment) Bill 2017: First Stage (12 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: I second the proposal.

Seanad: Report of Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Motion (12 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber to discuss the report and congratulate her on her new post. A huge amount of work and consultation went into the report and I am delighted to see it before the House. I commend Senator Neale Richmond for his work in chairing the committee and offer special thanks to the organisations and individuals who gave of their time and shared their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Pensions: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses for their attendance and presentation to members. I also thank them for all the service they have given to their country and to the people within the communities in which they worked. I agree with Senator Conway that this is a significant miscarriage of justice for them. We are the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality and this needs to be addressed. I hope the...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: I join other Senators in welcoming the report published this morning by the Department of Justice and Equality and researchers at University College Cork, UCC, on the lives of children living in direct provision. It further confirms what we all know, that direct provision is a national disgrace and we cannot stand over it.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: The injustice is unfathomable. Young people feel unsafe. These children were born into the system and confined to one room and four walls. They are not able to live normal lives or to develop as children should be. This is sowing the seeds for significant mental health problems down the line. We need to reject it. We know the reality of what it is like in these centres. This report...

Seanad: Independent Reporting Commission Bill 2017: Second Stage (19 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister and I welcome the independent reporting commission. I hope this will be another step towards achieving a society free from paramilitarism. This will help provide stability and peace in a society that has been plagued by violence for many years. The shared futures agreement promised to build hope and confidence throughout the North and to establish true...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: I, too, welcome what the Minister has said. Some people might be surprised that I support the legislation bearing in mind my background of community work and helping people who have problems with alcohol, in particular family members. I am in favour of the change because I believe it will help reduce the harm that alcohol does to the health of our people, which is interesting enough. In...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2017)

Frances Black: I send my condolences to the people of Las Vegas and to those who lost loved ones in the horrendous atrocity that happened there. I also join my colleague, Senator Higgins, and others in strongly condemning what happened in Catalonia in recent days. No matter one's position, brutal police violence against people trying to exercise their right to free assembly and the democratic process is a...

Seanad: Direct Provision: Statements (4 Oct 2017)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister. I am deeply sad that we still need to debate this issue. I disagree with the Minister in that I do not see direct provision as a way of protecting people. The system of direct provision is an absolute disgrace and something of which we should be deeply ashamed. The reality is that thousands of people are effectively warehoused and forced to live on €19 per...