Results 1,121-1,140 of 2,007 for speaker:Frances Black

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.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2021: Second Stage (16 Dec 2021)

Frances Black: The Minister is very welcome to the House. I wish her and her family, including the new grandchild she had only this year, a really happy Christmas. The first Christmas is always a very special one. I must highlight a few issues, however. Now, more than ever, is the time to invest proactively and strategically in our public services. While the nominal increase in welfare payments will no...

Seanad: Live Industry Supports: Statements (16 Dec 2021)

Frances Black: I thank my colleague, Senator Warfield, for allowing me to speak next in case we run out of time. The Minister is very welcome to the Chamber. This is a critical debate. As the Minister can imagine, I am very concerned about the music industry. We need to act now to save the music and live entertainment industry in this country. Some action has to be taken. The long and short of it is...

Seanad: TRIPS Waiver: Motion (15 Dec 2021)

Frances Black: The Minister of State is very welcome to the House. I am so proud to co-sponsor this motion with my colleagues and friends, Senators Higgins and Ruane. I commend Senator Higgins on her leadership on this issue and her passion for fighting for what is right. I am just blown away by this debate.I commend Senators Malcolm Byrne, O'Loughlin and Garvey on the stand they have taken. It gives me...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Ambulance Services: Discussion (15 Dec 2021)

Frances Black: I will speak now, if that is possible because, unfortunately, I have to leave.