Results 21-40 of 2,038 for speaker:Frances Black

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 agree with my colleague. To suggest that this is in any way antisemitic is completely untrue. I condemn all forms of racism, including antisemitism. When we talk about international law, we refer to the laws drawn up after the Second World War in the wake of the horrors of the Holocaust. People said that it should never happen again, to anyone. As my colleague has said, many Jewish...

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 was happy to have those talks with the Tánaiste and I was happy with how he delivered. He said the Government is open to the fact if it gets the legal detail right. I was happy about that and I am happy that he has taken this on board. I welcome it but I will be happier when it is done and I will be really happy when it is done. I have been here a few times before, so I find 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: I have had no reaction from the United States, to be honest.

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 have had reaction from Australia. They have already been in contact with our office. It is people in the political system who want to have a conversation about this. There is no doubt about it: momentum is shifting on this. Hundreds of thousands of people are marching all over the world on this issue. It is beyond belief as to why there is not more happening from the international...

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 Deputy.

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 Chair. Before coming to my final point, I hope the Chair will not mind my taking of a minute to thank all of the wonderful activists and organisations that I have been working with over the past seven years. This has been an incredible journey along with my two colleagues here, who have been unbelievable. I thank all of the people who came to the packed meetings all over 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: I would much rather it were applied to goods and services. It is vital that we include services in this Bill. The reality is that goods comprise 17% of trade while services comprise 70%. It is really important that we include both goods and services. That would make this Bill much stronger. It would be much more powerful and would send a powerful message.

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 (1 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: I will pass over to Senator Michael McDowell, if that is okay, and come back in after him.

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 (1 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: Mr. Smyth and Mr. Keown are both very welcome. As they are probably aware, the Tánaiste has said publicly that the Government is willing to include services in this final Bill if we get the detail right. I am 100% certain that we can do so. Inserting services is absolutely crucial and there is no legal barrier to doing it. I have published detailed legal advice from some of the most...

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 (1 Jul 2025)

Frances Black: The reality is that when one looks at the legal details, the three top lawyers who will come before this committee next week are saying that we can do this. In his personal opinion, does Mr. Smyth think it is possible to do from a legal perspective?

Seanad: Nursing Homes and Care for Older Persons: Statements (26 Jun 2025)

Frances Black: The Minister of State is very welcome to the Chamber today. I thank him for being here to discuss this very important issue. We have a collective responsibility to safeguard the safety, dignity and well-being of older citizens, particularly those in nursing homes and care settings across Ireland. It is a matter of profound importance. As recent events have laid bare, we all know there is...

Seanad: Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Frances Black: I move amendment No. 39: In page 6, between lines 20 and 21, to insert the following: “Legal continuity 9. (1) The amendments made by this Act shall not affect the validity of any proceedings, whether pending or completed, or any investigation, prosecution, conviction, sentence, order, requirement or obligation made, imposed, issued or otherwise undertaken before the commencement...

Seanad: Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Frances Black: Am I hearing the Minister of State right in that he is not accepting the amendment?

Seanad: Child Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation Material (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (11 Jun 2025)

Frances Black: The amendment seeks to preserve the validity of forensic reports and expert opinions. It avoids delays in trials caused by re-examining evidence, with no extra resources required for evidence management. It also protects the work of technical and digital forensic teams. It would serve to maintain confidence in the justice process, having been drafted with input from forensic and legal...

Seanad: Situation in Gaza: Statements (29 May 2025)

Frances Black: I will share time with my colleague Senator Higgins. The Minister of State is very welcome to the House today. I welcome the Cathaoirleach of the foreign affairs committee, Deputy John Lahart, here as well. For over a year and a half, we have been confronted with scenes in Gaza that are so horrific that they haunt us long after our screens go dark. Only this week, we saw the devastating...

Seanad: Situation in Gaza: Statements (29 May 2025)

Frances Black: They are legally binding, though. It is just a matter of accepting that.

Seanad: Local Democracy Task Force: Statements (27 May 2025)

Frances Black: I welcome these statements on the local democracy task force. I was proud to be a member of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee in the previous Seanad. We heard some very powerful testimonies from all over the country, from councillors and local government representative organisations North and South, who work at the coalface of their communities, to party leaders, former Ministers and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee (27 May 2025)

Frances Black: I congratulate the Cathaoirleach on his new role-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee (27 May 2025)

Frances Black: -----and I look forward to working with him and his officials. For the whole committee, this is a very important piece of work going forward. I agree with all of the suggestions made here this morning. They are all really inspirational, to be honest. I really liked what Deputy Tóibín said about legacy and the interstate case. That is really important going forward. I also...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 May 2025)

Frances Black: I thank my colleague Senator Stephenson for giving me the list of names of children who have been murdered in Gaza at zero years of age. It is too hard to read out the names. I will have to leave some out because we will not have enough time to read them all. What is happening in Gaza is an absolute horror show. We are all watching live on video but it is not a show or a film; this is...