Results 521-540 of 2,007 for speaker:Frances Black

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Frances Black: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (24 May 2023)

Frances Black: I second the amendment.

Seanad: Naming of National Children's Hospital for Dr. Kathleen Lynn: Motion (24 May 2023)

Frances Black: I am delighted to speak in favour of the motion. It is a brilliant idea and I have been excited about it ever since I first heard of the campaign when Senator Fitzpatrick invited the 1916 relatives association to Leinster House to promote the proposed naming of the hospital. I welcome the representatives of the 1916 relatives association to the Seanad. Dedication is an important part of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: HSE National Service Plan 2023: Discussion (24 May 2023)

Frances Black: I thank all the witnesses. I wish Mr. Gloster well going forward because he has a lot of very hard work to do and I do not envy him, that is for sure. The area I would like to speak about is around mental health. This might be an odd question to ask and I hope Mr. Gloster does not mind me asking it, but will he say a little about the importance of mental health services going forward...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: HSE National Service Plan 2023: Discussion (24 May 2023)

Frances Black: I totally agree with Mr. Gloster. It comes back to mental well-being as opposed to mental health issues. I am happy to say as Chair of the Joint Sub-Committee on Mental Health, that we have been working on the Sharing the Vision Implementation Plan 2022 to 2024. We brought in representatives from Jigsaw before the committee a couple of weeks ago and we hope to do a report on where we are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: HSE National Service Plan 2023: Discussion (24 May 2023)

Frances Black: I agree with Dr. McCallion. Even as Chair of the sub-committee, I find post pandemic that a lot of people are contacting our office looking for supports and guidance and it can be quite overwhelming for an awful lot of people. If I have time, I will ask one more question. Staff shortages were mentioned. Is there any measure that can be taken to improve the issue of staff shortages,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: HSE National Service Plan 2023: Discussion (24 May 2023)

Frances Black: I thank Mr. Gloster, and wish him well.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 May 2023)

Frances Black: Last Saturday, I had the honour of leading the 35th annual famine walk in the Leader's county of Mayo. It was organised by a wonderful group called Afri. This walk commemorates the suffering of Irish people during An Gorta Mór. It also serves as an opportunity, I believe, to reflect on the immense suffering that famine and war continue to inflict on people all across the world. As...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by Mr. Bertie Ahern, Former Taoiseach (23 May 2023)

Frances Black: Mr. Ahern is very welcome and I join with others in commending him on his very hard work and efforts to secure peace in Northern Ireland. There is no doubt we are in a much better place as a result of the collective work and his work to achieve the Good Friday Agreement. I am speaking today on behalf of my colleagues in the Civil Engagement Group. I welcome any chance to speak about the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: The Economics of Northern Ireland and the All-island Economy: Economic and Social Research Institute (11 May 2023)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses for their presentation. It is powerful listening to all of them. Their expertise and experience are valuable and vital to this committee, especially on this subject. We hope to bring out a report and it is important we hear the recommendations of the ESRI. I am glad we are having this conversation in the Oireachtas. I say this because I believe these conversations...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: The Economics of Northern Ireland and the All-island Economy: Economic and Social Research Institute (11 May 2023)

Frances Black: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: The Economics of Northern Ireland and the All-island Economy: Economic and Social Research Institute (11 May 2023)

Frances Black: Given the current debates about the future of Ireland, the shared island and the all-island economy, what are the priorities for future research?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: The Economics of Northern Ireland and the All-island Economy: Economic and Social Research Institute (11 May 2023)

Frances Black: I definitely agree with Dr. McGuinness there. There is no doubt but that it is coming down the road. There is no point in kicking the can down the road as there will be a border poll. Planning and preparing are vital. I have one more question-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: The Economics of Northern Ireland and the All-island Economy: Economic and Social Research Institute (11 May 2023)

Frances Black: What might be the main economic benefits for a new and united Ireland within the EU? Do the witnesses believe there could be such benefits? What are their thoughts on any new economic benefits that might arise within the EU in an all-Ireland scenario?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: The Economics of Northern Ireland and the All-island Economy: Economic and Social Research Institute (11 May 2023)

Frances Black: I will keep it short. I have one question, and I also want to get the opinion of the witnesses on something else. We know the shared island unit is doing phenomenal work. There is no doubt about that. The unit has been involved with work the ESRI has been doing. If the witnesses were to advise the shared island unit on priorities, what would their advice be? My second question is on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: The Economics of Northern Ireland and the All-island Economy: Economic and Social Research Institute (11 May 2023)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 May 2023)

Frances Black: When it comes to the Israeli apartheid regime's crimes against the Palestinians, the international community is stuck in a cycle of condemnation and inaction. The UN has condemned Israel for violations of international law thousands of times but nothing has been done, partially because of the US veto on the UN Security Council. This pattern has fostered a sense of impunity within Israel....

Seanad: Electoral Reform (Amendment) and Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (10 May 2023)

Frances Black: The Minister of State is very welcome. I want to start by thanking my colleague, Senator Higgins, and her policy adviser, Sárán Fogarty, who have done phenomenal work in this area, as have Senators Ruane, Warfield and McDowell. Many people have done brilliant work. I really believe this Bill is a celebration of democracy. That is what I think it is about today. We are fortunate...

Joint Committee On Health: Life Cycle Approach to Mental Health: Discussion (Resumed) (9 May 2023)

Frances Black: Minutes of committee's meeting on 18 April have been circulated to members for consideration. Are they agreed? Agreed. The purpose of this meeting is to consider the life cycle approach to mental health, particularly in the context of younger people. To enable the sub-committee to consider this matter, I welcome Dr. Joseph Duffy, CEO; Mr. Declan Whelan-Curtin, youth mental health...

Joint Committee On Health: Life Cycle Approach to Mental Health: Discussion (Resumed) (9 May 2023)

Frances Black: I will follow up now on the Sláintecare recommendations. Dr. Duffy said in his submission that we are far from the goal set in the Sláintecare recommendations of 10% of health spending being ring fenced for mental health. In that context, I ask our guests to outline what they think the priorities for young people's mental health should be in the next budget.