Results 1,121-1,140 of 2,011 for speaker:Frances Black

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services (3 Feb 2022)

Frances Black: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, for joining us in the Chamber. Earlier this week, the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, advised that it had decided not to press charges against officials or agencies who were responsible for the care of the intellectually disabled young woman at the heart of the Grace case. I am absolutely appalled and confused by this decision. It is my...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Mental Health Services (3 Feb 2022)

Frances Black: I thank the Minister of State. While I welcome the implementation of a number of measures to protect vulnerable people, including the revised national safeguarding policy, what happened to Grace, and what was allowed to happen to Grace and other young people who suffered abuse in the same foster home, is shameful. The fact that the DPP did not follow the recommendations of the Garda is...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Feb 2022)

Frances Black: It is lovely to see our colleague, Senator Norris, back in the House this morning. I want to commend my Civil Engagement colleague, Senator Flynn, on the introduction of her first item of legislation in tomorrow’s Private Members’ time. I am very disappointed I will not be able to be here tomorrow due to another commitment but I will be here with her in spirit. The Bill...

Seanad: Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Feb 2022)

Frances Black: I welcome the Tánaiste. I am pleased to see this legislation being debated in the Chamber. I thank the Tánaiste and his Department for their work on this matter. I commend Senator Gavan, who introduced the National Minimum Wage (Protection of Employee Tips) Bill 2017. It laid the groundwork for the Government's legislation. The restaurant industry and the wider hospitality...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jan 2022)

Frances Black: This is my first Order of Business of the year and I did not get a chance to come in last week. I take this opportunity to express my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Ms Ashling Murphy. She was a beautiful young woman who was needlessly murdered. I also express my condolences to the family and friends of all the women who have died needlessly and violently at...

Seanad: Violence Against Women: Statements (27 Jan 2022)

Frances Black: I find the debate very moving and upsetting. It was very powerful listening to Senators Boylan and Hoey. I do not think there is a woman that has not been impacted, including myself. It is amazing how from a very young age we learn as young female children to protect ourselves. We have to. There is no other way about it. We have to learn to protect ourselves from when we are very young...

Seanad: Final Report on Impacts of Brexit of Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister to the House and acknowledge that he is always willing to come to the Seanad for debates such as this. I commend the Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on its work over the course of the last 12 months in preparation for its final report. I highly commend Senator Chambers. I know how passionate she was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues Relating to General Practice: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Frances Black: I thank all of the witnesses for their comprehensive presentations. Hearing the issues with general practice and the workforce crisis being discussed has been an eye-opener. Many of my questions have already been asked and Senator Hoey touched a little on the issue of mental health. I want to ask questions on this. There is no doubt that a high-level working group to address all the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues Relating to General Practice: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Frances Black: I want to ask another question with regard to mental health and Covid-19. I am sure GPs have seen more people coming to them with mental health issues, stress and anxiety. I am not speaking about extreme mental health issues. I am speaking about the everyday stresses of life that come with Covid-19. Is there a better way to equip GPs in managing this? Do some GPs have a mental health...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Issues Relating to General Practice: Discussion (26 Jan 2022)

Frances Black: I thank all the witnesses. Hearing their presentations has been an eye-opener. There is no doubt about it. I agree that we need a high-level working group to look at the issues relating to general practice.

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021 (Resumed): Office of the Ombudsman for Children (25 Jan 2022)

Frances Black: I welcome the representatives from the Office of the Ombudsman for Children, who are here to brief the committee on the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill. I welcome Dr. Niall Muldoon, the Ombudsman for Children; Dr. Karen McAuley, head of policy; and Mr. Diego Castillo Goncalves, policy officer. Before we hear the opening statement, I need to point out to our witnesses that there is...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021 (Resumed): Office of the Ombudsman for Children (25 Jan 2022)

Frances Black: I thank Dr. Muldoon. Senator Conway is first. He will be followed by Deputies Ward and Hourigan.

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021 (Resumed): Office of the Ombudsman for Children (25 Jan 2022)

Frances Black: I have one or two questions. I thank our guests for their clear and precise presentation. The impact that a child being admitted to an adult facility would have on him or her is shocking. Without doubt, there should be zero tolerance for that. Have our guests received any complaints from young people or children about how they have been treated at an adult facility or in mental health...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021 (Resumed): Office of the Ombudsman for Children (25 Jan 2022)

Frances Black: That picture Dr. Muldoon painted of the doctor sitting across from the parent and almost ignoring the child is quite harrowing, to be honest. With regard to advocacy, does Dr. Muldoon have any idea which organisation would be best placed to provide advocacy services? I know the National Advocacy Service, the Patient Advocacy Service and the Decision Support Service are all only for those...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021 (Resumed): Office of the Ombudsman for Children (25 Jan 2022)

Frances Black: And that is only for young people in inpatient units. How can an organisation advocate for someone under 18 outside of approved facilities?

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021 (Resumed): Office of the Ombudsman for Children (25 Jan 2022)

Frances Black: With regard to the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2021, has Dr. Muldoon's office engaged with the Joint Committee on Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on that Bill? Would it consider sending in a submission on the code of practice of the Decision Support Service? It is just something that came to mind.

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021 (Resumed): Office of the Ombudsman for Children (25 Jan 2022)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses for coming in today. The presentations were excellent. Even though we have the information, to hear it in such detail was a real eye-opener for me. I thank the witnesses for coming in and for their very helpful contributions.