Results 1,981-2,000 of 2,011 for speaker:Frances Black

Seanad: UK Referendum on EU Membership: Statements (5 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: I welcome the announcement by the Taoiseach of the establishment of an all-Ireland civic dialogue on Brexit. My father came from Rathlin island, a small island off the coast of north Antrim, and if he were alive today he would have a lot of concerns. One of these would be over the Border becoming harder than it is at present. Some of the harder-line Brexiteers in Mrs. May's Conservative...

Seanad: Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement: Motion (5 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: I commend Senator Norris on bringing up the issue of tobacco health warnings and CETA. As we all know, according to the World Health Organization tobacco kills almost 6 million people annually. The 2005 Framework Convention on Tobacco Control advocates numerous regularity measures to restrict tobacco marketing and promotion. The multinational tobacco industry has opposed these measures,...

Select Committee on the Future of Healthcare: Citizen-Centred Health Care: Civil Engagement (5 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: I thank the committee for inviting us to come along today. We were all delighted to come. I want to speak on a specific issue of concern. I have worked in the addiction area since 2003 during which time I have learned a great deal, particularly from family members, about the impact of harmful drinking on families and particularly on children. We know that we have a huge problem with...

Select Committee on the Future of Healthcare: Citizen-Centred Health Care: Civil Engagement (5 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: It is a bit of both. I feel very privileged to address the committee today. Both of my colleagues from Civil Engagement are very experienced in this area. I probably do not have the same experience. I can only talk about the experience I have had in the charity sector working with the RISE Foundation, which I set up myself, and the lack of resources we have had. We provide a service for...

Select Committee on the Future of Healthcare: Citizen-Centred Health Care: Civil Engagement (5 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: I am very concerned about this area because we are aware of the relationship between alcohol, drugs and even gambling and mental health and how they are so closely linked. Gambling probably has the highest rate of suicide out of all the addictions. When I worked as a therapist in the Rutland Centre, I do not think I had met anybody in there with an addiction who did not have underlying...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Minister for Justice and Equality (5 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: The Tánaiste has covered a lot of the questions that I wanted to ask but I will highlight a couple of issues. There is a lack of services provided to help people recover from addictions and mental health issues in the Prison Service. I appreciate that the Tánaiste has spoken a lot about the matter. I have worked closely with many of the women in the Dóchas prison so have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Irish Sign Language: Irish Deaf Society (28 Sep 2016)

Frances Black: I thank everyone for coming here today. The work Senator Daly is doing in pushing forward this legislation is fantastic. Ms Murray mentioned various issues. I cannot even imagine what it must be like to feel the isolation one might feel at times when trying to communicate in general with society. It must be very difficult. She mentioned mental health issues which can often arise. Is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Implications for Good Friday Agreement of UK EU Referendum Result: Discussion (27 Sep 2016)

Frances Black: I thank the Minister for coming before the committee. I do not envy him the job he has ahead. I am keen to highlight the issues that my colleagues have spoken on, especially in respect of funding. I have worked closely with community initiatives in north Belfast such as Bridge of Hope, which does fantastic work, especially for people who have been affected by the conflict. The issues that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Fiscal Implications for Northern Ireland of UK EU Referendum Result: Discussion (27 Sep 2016)

Frances Black: I thank the Minister for attending. I love his positivity. It is great to see that - to use the "F" word - he is going to fight. He mentioned that he already felt he had his foot in the door and had more chance in Scotland. Can he say a little bit more around that and is he feeling positive around the fact that there is a possibility that the North can remain in the EU? How does he see...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Charity Appeals Tribunal: Chairperson Designate (14 Sep 2016)

Frances Black: I welcome Mr. O'Connor to the meeting and apologise for being late. I was not expecting the traffic to be so bad this morning. This is my first meeting of the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality and while I am a little nervous, I am delighted to be here. I do not have a specific question for Mr. O'Connor. I simply wish to congratulate him on his appointment. He is highly skilled,...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Jul 2016)

Frances Black: I wish to speak about the comprehensive employment strategy for the employment of people with disabilities, which is a ten-year approach to ensure that people with disabilities, who are able to and want to work, are supported and enabled to do so. It is a cross-Government approach led by the Department of Justice and Equality and is based on five strategic priorities: building skills and...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Black: In welcoming the Government's housing action plan I highlight the concerns expressed recently by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, ISPCC. We must bear in mind that the number of children in emergency accommodation increased by 67% in June compared with the same month last year. Hundreds of children are living in emergency accommodation and the State must take...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Black: I am pleased that the Taoiseach has not ruled out the triggering of the clause in the Good Friday Agreement on a Border poll, especially given economic research launched recently in New York. Led by Dr. Kurt Huebner, director of the Institute of European Studies at the University of British Columbia, the findings of this research indicate that the unification of Ireland would have the...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jul 2016)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. I know he has had a busy week. I welcome the proposed suspension of water charges in this Bill. It is clear that the people are not going to accept water charges. They have shown this through the major demonstrations on the streets to oppose this unfair tax. The recent figures from Irish Water show a significant drop in the number of people paying...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Frances Black: Thousands of ordinary households are willing us to pass this Bill to suspend water charges formally, but it does not end there. We must scrap them entirely. Let us face the fact that they have been suspended in the hearts and minds of people, as can be seen in the reduction in payments made to Irish Water. Water charges were the straw that broke the camel’s back. People took to the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Alcohol Treatment Services (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Black: I would like to thank the Minister for coming to the House this morning to deal with this Commencement matter and to congratulate her on her appointment. Alcohol misuse in Ireland is an issue about which I am passionate. For the benefit of the Minister, I will repeat the data I read into the record during yesterday's Order of Business, as set out in the Health Research Board's national...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Alcohol Treatment Services (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Black: I thank the Minister of State. I welcome the fact that the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015 will go through the Houses. That is fantastic and it will keep the conversation going. I also welcome the hidden harm report. Implementation is vital, particularly for children who live in homes. Nobody understands the impact of hidden harm. I work with families who have loved ones with alcohol...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Black: I attended a briefing this morning by an organisation called WALK, which works with young people with intellectual disabilities, where I met two amazing young women, Jessica and Niamh. Jessica is a young girl with intellectual disabilities who struggled with depression because she could not find the right work for her or any place to go. Due to her so-called intellectual disability -...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jul 2016)

Frances Black: Will the Leader invite the Minister for Health to the House to talk about the issues around alcohol services in the State? I spoke last week on the alcohol problem in the State and I feel that I have to bring it up again. After some research I was shocked to see the findings. Figures in the Health Research Board’s national alcohol diary survey show the following: over 150,000 people...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (13 Jul 2016)

Frances Black: I wish to share my time with Senator Dolan.