Results 681-700 of 2,007 for speaker:Frances Black

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2023)

Frances Black: I too offer my condolences to all those people from Syria and Türkiye who lost their lives in horrific circumstances. I want to highlight some issues raised in our very alarming and disturbing session in the health committee I attended this morning. We heard from representatives of trade unions representing healthcare workers about the shocking degree of violence and risk to which...

Seanad: Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Bill 2022: Second Stage (8 Feb 2023)

Frances Black: It is lovely to see the Minister of State in the Chamber. I congratulate her on her new role and wish her well. As we all know too well in Ireland, misconduct by those in the banking sector has the potential to destabilise the entire country. We are 15 years on from the banking crisis. In those 15 years, we have evidence that the culture of greed and impunity within the banking sector has...

Seanad: Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Bill 2022: Second Stage (8 Feb 2023)

Frances Black: -----of the regime in this House. As the Minister of State outlined, the regulations will be drafted following a comprehensive consultation process, so it is very important we ensure that the public's input is given the maximum possible weight within that process. I fear we will see, as we have seen many times before, the outsized influence of banking lobbyists. A recent article in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Welfare and Safety of Workers and Patients in Public Health Service: Discussion (8 Feb 2023)

Frances Black: I sincerely thank all of the witnesses before the committee for coming in. I also thank our front-line workers and those working at the coalface. What we are hearing is shocking. It is upsetting. What I am hearing is that front-line workers in healthcare and other healthcare workers are traumatised, burnt out, exhausted and at the end of their tether. I cannot imagine how they keep going...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Welfare and Safety of Workers and Patients in Public Health Service: Discussion (8 Feb 2023)

Frances Black: I hope this is not an inappropriate question, but why does Mr. Figgis think that engagement with representatives is not happening? What is going on?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Welfare and Safety of Workers and Patients in Public Health Service: Discussion (8 Feb 2023)

Frances Black: As for the assault that happens and all the issues around the serious assault scheme, can Mr. Figgis say a little more about what safeguards are recommended to mitigate the likelihood of serious assaults in the first place? I know he might have spoken about that already, but it is a very important issue.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Feb 2023)

Frances Black: I want to start by congratulating those involved with the launch of Dublin Communities Against Racism over the weekend, including my good friend and colleague, Senator Eileen Flynn. I found the recent eruption of racist anti-refugee protests to be deeply disturbing, and many of the leaders of these protests are spreading misinformation that plays on the fears and prejudices of ordinary...

Seanad: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Statements (1 Feb 2023)

Frances Black: The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is very welcome to the Chamber. I thank her for coming to the Seanad to update us on the issues in this important debate. I agree with colleagues who have said that when CAMHS works, it works really well.I thank her also for her commitment. Nevertheless, the recent report of the Mental Health Commission regarding the state of CAMHS is truly alarming...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Treatment Services: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Frances Black: I thank all of the witnesses for coming in today. I also thank all of the front-line workers in this area, as well as those working in NGOs. Everybody knows somebody who has cancer. We will have a family member who has had cancer. Two of my family members have passed away from cancer. It is a very important topic. I am aware that there has been a lot of talk about cigarette smoking...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Treatment Services: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Frances Black: I agree. I also think it is vital we get the warnings on alcohol. I tabled an amendment, which was accepted in 2018, on the fact it should be stated on the label that there is a direct link between alcohol and fatal cancers and liver disease as well as the danger of alcohol consumption when pregnant. The impact of alcohol does not roll off our tongue as much as smoking does. Everybody in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Cancer Treatment Services: Discussion (1 Feb 2023)

Frances Black: That is a very important point. There is often burnout. One can imagine what it is like working with patients who have cancer and looking at their families. It must be very difficult, but if the conditions are not right within the work environment, there could be a lot of burnout and staff could be lost that way as well. That might be something that could be taken into consideration going...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Jan 2023)

Frances Black: It is great to see the Cathaoirleach in the Chair. I congratulate the Leader on her new role. I hope everybody had a very peaceful and restorative break over the Christmas period. I am sure that many in the Chamber will be familiar with the disturbing findings in the most recent report on child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, from the Mental Health Commission. It paints an...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Jan 2023)

Frances Black: Hear, hear.

Seanad: National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (24 Jan 2023)

Frances Black: The Minister is very welcome to the House. I hope she and her team had a nice break over the Christmas period. I would say it was a well deserved break. I want to be associated with the congratulations to the Oscar nominees, especially "An Cailín Ciúin". It is one of the finest films I have ever seen. Even thinking about it makes me emotional. It is powerful and I recommend...

Seanad: Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Members of Local Authorities) Bill 2022: Second and Subsequent Stages (15 Dec 2022)

Frances Black: I congratulate the Minister of State on the Bill. It is definitely long overdue and it is very welcome. Credit to the Minister of State and his Department for all their work on the Bill. The swiftness of this Bill’s journey through the Oireachtas signifies both the importance of the legislation and the broad support for it that exists in the Houses.It is rare for us all to be in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Dec 2022)

Frances Black: On behalf of the Civil Engagement Group, I offer condolences to the friends and family of Private Seán Rooney, the Irish soldier who was killed in Lebanon. The soldier who was injured, Private Shane Kearney, is also very much in my thoughts. I hope he makes a full and speedy recovery. It is an horrific and awful tragedy. My thoughts are with all of the soldiers serving in Lebanon and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Dec 2022)

Frances Black: I look forward to reading the Joint Committee on Gender Equality's report. I commend all who were involved in that report. I congratulate Senator Mary Fitzpatrick and the 1916 Relatives Association on their briefing yesterday about the campaign to name the new children's hospital after Dr. Kathleen Lynn. It is a fantastic idea. I want to add my name to the long list of Members who are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Recruitment, Retention and Manpower Planning Issues: Irish College of General Practitioners (14 Dec 2022)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses for coming in. Many of my questions have been covered and I do not want to go over them again. There is, however, one point I want to come back to, which Senator Kyne has touched on. I am aware that it is not referred to in the document but it is about students and the points system. For example, I know of a young woman who all her life wanted to become a doctor....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Recruitment, Retention and Manpower Planning Issues: Irish College of General Practitioners (14 Dec 2022)

Frances Black: The witnesses' ask today is for a task force going forward and for that task force to have a strategic review in a timely fashion. How can we as a committee support the witnesses in that? What would they like us to do?