Results 821-840 of 1,997 for speaker:Frances Black

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Young Voices on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Discussion (30 Sep 2022)

Frances Black: It is an honour to be here to hear the witnesses' voices. I felt so emotional listening to them that a few times I nearly burst into tears because they were so inspiring. I feel our future in this country is in safe hands because we have young people like these here with us. It really is a privilege, and I thank them all. Some of them have travelled from far and wide to be here. I also...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Young Voices on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Discussion (30 Sep 2022)

Frances Black: I will keep it very short. I thank the representatives for their contributions. We need their voice, as my colleague has said. The issues that we are talking about here today impact young people enormously. Sometimes we in Government Buildings live in a bubble. We are nearly institutionalised. I may be repeating myself but this is why it is so important that the witnesses are here...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Voices of All Communities on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Discussion (30 Sep 2022)

Frances Black: I always feel a little intimidated speaking after my colleague here because he is such a wonderful speaker. I thank the witnesses all so much for coming in today. We had young people in this morning and it was mind-blowing. I have to be honest with everyone about that. Hearing these presentations today, and I look forward to hearing the others as well, I want to repeat my thanks to the...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Voices of All Communities on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Discussion (30 Sep 2022)

Frances Black: Some of them are still here. They were fantastic. We need to hear more young people. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Voices of All Communities on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Discussion (30 Sep 2022)

Frances Black: Mr. Cusnahan and others mentioned a border poll. I do not even think about a border poll. For me, it is about planning and preparing. Everything comes down to planning, preparation, communication and these conversations. It is vital for our Government to be looking at planning. There have been a lot of academic papers on planning and preparing. Colin Harvey has done significant work on...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Voices of All Communities on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Discussion (30 Sep 2022)

Frances Black: Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaorlaigh. I thank everybody who came in today. I thank them for giving us their time and for making their submissions. I also thank everyone who sent in a submission. There were more than 100. This work that the Seanad is doing is vital. I did not think too much about it until I was sitting here this morning listening to the young people. I knew it would be...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Sep 2022)

Frances Black: The Minister is welcome to the House. I am very grateful to Ber Grogan of Mental Health Reform for helping out with much of this over the past few months. I am also very grateful to Dr. Fiona Morrissey of NUIG, who has also been very helpful to me. An advance healthcare directive is a statement set out by someone when he or she has the capacity to make decisions about his or her will and...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Sep 2022)

Frances Black: That would be helpful. There is no reason this provision cannot be removed. Will the Minister give a little more explanation in this regard? It impacts everyone but especially those who are vulnerable. Dealing with it must be a priority. Is that something he will consider as we go forward? We need a full discussion on it before Report Stage. The provision needs to be taken out and it...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Sep 2022)

Frances Black: I move amendment No. 3: In page 8, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: “(e) section 85(7);”. Amendment No. 42, which was tabled by the Minister, will mandate compliance with AHDs made by some people detained under the Mental Health Act but not others. Those admitted under section 31(b), because the clinician believes that they will deteriorate or...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Sep 2022)

Frances Black: I commend the Minister. He has done a lot of work on this and I hear what he is saying. I know he has got this to a certain level. We just feel we need to push it that little bit extra. It is very important that we try our best to strengthen the legislation. I hear what the Minister is saying. He has done a phenomenal amount of work and I look forward to engaging with him further on...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Sep 2022)

Frances Black: I am disappointed the Minister will not accept the amendment. The age of medical consent is 16, except in respect of mental health treatment. Sixteen and 17-year-olds cannot refuse consent for hospitalisation, electroconvulsive therapy, or any other form of psychiatric treatment. This is clearly discordant and discriminatory. I really do believe that. I am Chair of the Oireachtas...

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (28 Sep 2022)

Frances Black: I move amendment No. 40: In page 61, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 84 of Principal Act 73.Section 84 of the Principal Act is amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (1): “(1) A person who has obtained the age of 16 and who has capacity may make an advance health care directive.”.”.

Seanad: Impact of Cost of Living Issues on Young People in Ireland: Motion (28 Sep 2022)

Frances Black: I congratulate Senator Hoey for a fantastic speech in which she hit the nail on the head. Her friends and colleagues are in the age group we are talking about today and that was powerful. On behalf of the Civil Engagement Group I also want to commend my colleague, Senator Clonan, on this timely motion. Hearing his story about his son was powerful and that is the reality of life today and...

Seanad: Budget 2023 (Public Expenditure and Reform): Statements (27 Sep 2022)

Frances Black: Can I share half of my time with my colleague, Senator Flynn?

Seanad: Budget 2023 (Public Expenditure and Reform): Statements (27 Sep 2022)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Budget day is a very busy day of drama and pageantry, when Ministers are congratulated and denounced in equal measure. All of the drama and pageantry can feel very far removed from the people most directly impacted by the decisions made in this House. The people whose voices we most need to hear are those who experience deprivation and want....

Seanad: Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (15 Sep 2022)

Frances Black: I warmly welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for the work he has been doing in this area. I also welcome two campaigners who are in the Public Gallery, Ms Ber Grogan, policy and advocacy co-ordinator for Mental Health Reform, and Ms Fiona Walsh, co-director of Recovery Experts by Experience. There is no doubt that both women have been doing a lot of work around this legislation....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Sep 2022)

Frances Black: I welcome everyone back after the recess which I hope was peaceful and restful. I also want to be associated with the condolences to Ambassador Johnston and to all in the UK who are in mourning. It is a very sad day. There are many things which we all know eat away at the peace of mind of ordinary Irish people as winter approaches. One issue common to almost everyone is the increasingly...

Seanad: Night-time Economy: Motion (13 Jul 2022)

Frances Black: The Minister is very welcome to the House. I am delighted to be here to support this motion. I thank Senator Warfield and his colleagues in Sinn Féin for tabling the motion and allowing us to debate a crucial issue. There is no doubt nightlife is a central part of our cultural life. It brings vibrancy to our cities and towns and provides a much-needed release from the pressures and...

Seanad: Report of the Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Frances Black: I am grateful for the opportunity to speak at such an important debate. The work that Senator Flynn and the other members of the committee have completed is historic and vitally important. I will just speak about mental health and the stark realities of the mental health crisis in the Traveller community. I will read the statistics again because they are vital. Suicide accounts for 11%...

Seanad: Report of the Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community: Motion (12 Jul 2022)

Frances Black: Travellers experience the challenges of racism, discrimination, social exclusion, incarceration and unemployment on a scale that is difficult to comprehend. It is a dense web of disadvantage and cruelty that takes an enormous toll on the community’s mental health. The astronomical rates of mental illness among Travellers remind me of the similar epidemic of mental illness among the...