Results 1-20 of 354 for at speaker:Frances Black

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?

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Frances Black: I commend Senators Warfield and Ruane on this great legislation and I welcome all the young people here today. Robust voter participation is fundamental to a healthy democracy and 16 and 17 year olds voting would increase voter engagement across the entire electorate. There are a few reasons the voting age should be lowered to 16. First, 16 year olds voting build lifelong voters. Second,...

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...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Mar 2022)

Frances Black: I warmly welcome the ambassador of Bulgaria. I wish everybody well on this Bulgarian national day. I was at an absolutely harrowing briefing this week on Yemen and what is happening there. I want to give a little bit of detail of the reality of what is happening. In the past seven years, 377,000 Yemeni people have died due to direct and indirect causes of war, 10,000 of whom are children....

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. John Horan (29 Jan 2019)

Frances Black: I welcome the uachtarán of the GAA and I thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for inviting him to the House. I happened to be in Croke Park this morning at an addiction conference. I must say, and I agree with the Cathaoirleach, that just looking across Croke Park fulfils my heart. It is a beautiful place to visit. I have always felt happy at any GAA game I have attended. I probably feel...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Oct 2021)

Frances Black: I draw attention to the horrific abuse of adults with intellectual disabilities that occurred at the Ard Gréine Court facility, Donegal. On Friday last, The Irish Timesran another piece on the issue after it finally received a copy of the unpublished report into the matter, the Brandon report. We now know that approximately 108 incidents of devastating abuse were experienced by at...

Joint Committee On Health: Life Cycle Approach to Mental Health: Discussion (18 Apr 2023)

Frances Black: Will Deputy Lahart agree to let Deputy Hourigan in at this point as she has to leave at 12.30 p.m.?

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2022: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Feb 2022)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses for the presentations. Our first speaker today is Deputy Mark Ward. If witnesses want to come in at any time, I ask that they put up their hand. If any attendees who are joining online want to come in at any time, I ask that they use the raise-hand function.

Joint Committee On Health: Impact of Covid-19 on Children: Discussion (20 Oct 2021)

Frances Black: I thank Ms Connolly for her answer. The sub-committee really appreciates the witnesses coming in at such short notice. My personal view is that we are facing into a tsunami of mental health issues for every age group at this time. I thank the witnesses for the phenomenal work they do and their helpful contributions today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill and the UK Government's Plans around the Human Rights Act: Amnesty International UK (10 Nov 2022)

Frances Black: I thank Mr. O'Hare. I have a few questions for Ms Teggart. She spoke a little about the timeline of the Bill and the urgency of the Government moving to take the inter-state ECHR case. Does she have any idea at all of how the Minister and the Department are thinking? I know she is awaiting a meeting but is there any indication at all as to their thoughts?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Vitamin D and Covid-19: Covit-D Consortium (23 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: I thank all the witnesses for an extremely informative discussion. Even though I was always aware that vitamin D was good I did not realise how important it is. I think it was Dr. Daniel McCartney who spoke about the importance of getting out the message, particularly in this very difficult time, about the importance of vitamin D. We need to focus on getting out that message. It is...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2016)

Frances Black: As we all know, the housing crisis is the result of more than 30 years of Government policy, during which the State moved away from the provision of social housing. Rent certainty would be the best Christmas gift the Government could give to the thousands of people who are at risk of losing their homes because of rising rents. The homelessness situation is at an all-time high and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Sláintecare: Department of Health (9 Jun 2021)

Frances Black: The Rise Foundation, for which I do work, is an organisation that supports family members who have somebody they love with an alcohol, drug or gambling problem. It does not get any Government support whatsoever. It has six to eight therapists but it also has a waiting list. There is something not right about that picture at this time. This needs to be addressed. The organisation does...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Citizenship Rights and DeSouza Judgment: Discussion (4 Dec 2019)

Frances Black: I would like to put on record my full support for Emma DeSouza and her husband Jake. What they have been through is totally unacceptable and the position of the UK Government is totally contrary to the Good Friday Agreement and they are 100% right to oppose it and I am glad to see the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste offering the Government's support, and I am very hopeful that this committee...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: All-Island Economy: Discussion (Resumed) (23 May 2024)

Frances Black: That might be something the committee could include as a recommendation in its report. That will be very important going forward. We have had loads of different meetings on this issue. Professor John FitzGerald and Professor Edgar Morgenroth were before the committee in the past few weeks. Their paper looked at the economy following any border poll in which the people opted for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Whistleblower Allegations: Department of Health (5 May 2021)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses for coming in today. I will try to keep it as short as I possibly can. According to The Irish Times, the internal review looked at 29 cases that are still under way but not at the more than 200 completed cases taken against the State in which the Minister for Health was named as a defendant, including those around special needs. Why did the Department not increase the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Feb 2019)

Frances Black: I raise an issue about which I have become increasingly concerned. In recent weeks a great many reports of State authorities needlessly cutting down trees have come in from right across the country. I am amazed at the number of councillors and members of the public who are speaking out and contacting us. It seems to be happening all at the one time, which is a little bit strange. My...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Frances Black: ...section, political purposes mean— (a) (i)to promote or oppose, directly or indirectly, the interests of apolitical party, a political group, a member of either House of the Oireachtas or a representative in the European Parliament, (ii) to present, directly or indirectly, the policies or a particular policy of a political party, a political group, a member of either House of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Mortgage Arrears Resolution (Family Home) Bill 2017: Discussion (25 Oct 2017)

Frances Black: Apologies for being late but I read Deputy Michael McGrath's statement last night. It is time for this legislation and I commend the Deputy on the work that he is doing. I wholeheartedly support the Bill. Any measure that prevents borrowers from losing their homes has to be welcomed. As we all will be aware, Fr. Peter McVerry, who is a wonderful man, said this country is returning to...

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (5 Dec 2018)

Frances Black: I am going to keep it very short until the Bill is passed, at which point I would like to make a final speech and thank a few people. I have to disagree with the Minister of State on what the Attorney General said. At some point I would like to see what the Attorney General said. We have opinions from the top legal people in Europe - Michael Lynn, Professor James Crawford and Professor...