Results 1-20 of 2,038 for speaker:Frances Black

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Legal and Policy Gaps in Adult Safeguarding: Discussion (9 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: I am not a member of the committee, so I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to come in. This is a really important issue. I want to thank all the witnesses for the phenomenal work they are doing in this area. Their dedication and commitment are phenomenal. I cannot believe we are here again discussing this issue. My colleague, former Senator Colette Kelleher, introduced this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Legal and Policy Gaps in Adult Safeguarding: Discussion (9 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: I will not ask more questions because I am conscious of time, but I hope this will be made a priority of the Committee on Health going forward. I am not a member, but I know the Chair is good about this issue. I thank all the witnesses for the amazing work they do. It must get very frustrating for them at times. I cannot imagine what it is like to receive horrific stories every day and...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy: Statements (8 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: The Minister of State is very welcome to the Chamber. This is the first opportunity I have had to congratulate her on her new role. I hope she is very well settled into her brief. I know she is very passionate about this area. My colleagues and I in the Civil Engagement Group look forward to working with the Minister of State in the term ahead, particularly my colleague, Senator Lynn...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: I thank the Cathaoirleach. I was very encouraged yesterday by the very diplomatic and constructive discussions among members yesterday when I was at the meeting. It was lovely to see and I thank members for that. I thank the committee for the opportunity to speak today. This is a really significant moment and it is one I want to recognise and strongly welcome. I have been working on this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: There is no doubt about it. I have been amazed at the interest in this Bill from countries all over the world. I have been invited to speak about this legislation in many parliaments. I was in Norway a few years back and I was invited to speak about it in Parliament in Chile a few years ago. In fact, just this year, Chile announced that it is bringing in its own version of this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: Does Mr. O'Neill wish to come in on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: I would welcome a legal challenge to be honest because I believe we would win. It is as simple as that. I have no doubt that this is the right thing to do. We have unbelievable legal advice and we have had unbelievable opinions from the top legal people in the world on this issue. I feel very strongly that if we were challenged on this there is 100% no doubt that we would win.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: Three months would probably be a relatively good time for businesses for run-off time. That would give them plenty of time for this. I will hand over the second question to Mr. O'Neill.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: We know what is happening. I was in the West Bank back in 2018 just before I introduced this Bill. Obviously we introduced it for all occupied territories, all illegal occupied territories, and all illegal settlements in any occupied territory. What I saw with my own eyes when I was in the West Bank was pretty horrendous. I saw how people's lands, houses and farm lands were taken off them...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: When I had the conversations with the Tánaiste he said if we got the legal detail right he would be willing to accept services and I am very hopeful about that. I genuinely believe we will get the legal detail right. I am really looking forward to seeing what the Attorney General’s advice is. I hope it is sooner rather than later. I would love for the committee to consider...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: I am hopeful for the people of Palestine. I can only go back to the experiences I had in Palestine when I was at the border protest in May 2018 when a young child looked into my eyes and said to me “Why does nobody care about us?” They are the things that keep me going. I still think of those children who were at the border protest. I took photographs of their beautiful...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: No.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: No, it does not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: I do not think so. Including services is absolutely crucial. Last year, as we know and as my colleagues have said, the International Court of Justice, the highest court in the world, stated clearly that the Israel's settlements are illegal, end of, and that all countries must end all trade with them. All trade, full stop. I would like us to follow what the International Court of Justice...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: That means including both physical goods and services. We have to look at what those products are, including dates and oranges, and services such as tech and IT. My colleagues can go into more detail about services. That is the standard the Government now needs to meet; there is no doubt about that. There is no legal barrier to doing it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: Sure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: We could pass this Bill in the autumn. I would love to see it passed before the recess, ideally. That would be great. I am willing to sit through the recess but I am sure other people would not be too happy with that. I genuinely think that once this report is done, once the work is done and once we have the Attorney General's report, we can get this done by the autumn. That would be my-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: Sorry, Senator, Mr. O'Neill wishes to come in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: I will hand over to Mr. O'Neill and Mr. Liston. Before I do, I will say that I would like to see the legal detail on that issue. I still have not seen the proper legal detail. We will see what the Attorney General has to say. I will hand over to Mr. Liston on the issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Scheme of Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: I will hand over to Mr. O'Neill, who wants to come in.