Results 1,421-1,440 of 1,997 for speaker:Frances Black

Seanad: Living with Covid-19: Statements (29 Mar 2021)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister to the House. I start by sending my condolences to all those who have lost loved ones in this awful pandemic. I also commend all the front-line workers who are doing an absolutely incredible job. It is an extremely challenging time for everyone at the moment, and no doubt about it. We are all doing our best, but I think that the Minister might agree with me on the...

Seanad: Matters Arising from the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU: Statements (29 Mar 2021)

Frances Black: I also welcome the Minister to the Chamber. We appreciate that he has made himself available. I also want to express my gratitude for the phenomenal work he has done on Brexit on behalf of the people of Ireland. It has been brilliant and we appreciate it. There has been much discussion about the impact on our country of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU. Most of the discussion has...

Seanad: Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021: Second Stage (26 Mar 2021)

Frances Black: I move amendment No. 1 to amendment No. 1: To delete "12 months" and substitute "6 months". I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am in wholehearted support of this quality in public procurement Bill and I begin by commending my colleague, Senator Alice-Mary Higgins, on her hard work and ongoing commitment to tackling the numerous flaws in the public procurement and expenditure...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: The EU and Irish Unity - Planning and Preparing for Constitutional Change: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2021)

Frances Black: I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to speak again to our two esteemed witnesses. This is an important report. It is important to highlight that it is an academic research tool to assist the discussion on the importance of planning and preparing for constitutional change. There is no doubt that many people have said we need to do more work on this. That is important to say. I believe...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2021)

Frances Black: This is not the first time that I have raised the following issue in the House, and I feel that I must do so again today. I refer to the struggle being experienced by musicians, artists and anyone who works in the entertainment industry during Covid, which seems to be getting worse. It is still a very pressing and important issue that needs to be discussed. In my ongoing communication and...

Seanad: Local Government (Use of CCTV in Prosecution of Offences) Bill 2021: Second Stage (5 Mar 2021)

Frances Black: I thank the Labour Party Senators Mark Wall, Maria Sherlock, Rebecca Moynihan, Annie Hoey and Ivana Bacik for putting forward this legislation, which is designed to create a safer environment for the common good of everyone. However, it is important to highlight the obvious concern that a balance between privacy and the common good must be struck. I am pleased that the Labour Party's press...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: The Irish Language and the New Decade New Approach Agreement: Conradh na Gaeilge (2 Mar 2021)

Frances Black: Tá brón orm mar nach bhfuil mórán Ghaeilge agam. Tá náire orm. Again, tá an-bhrón orm. I thank all the witnesses for their presentations. They were fascinating to me and very refreshing. It was wonderful to hear Irish spoken this morning. It was music to my ears. My story is that my father came from Rathlin Island, and his grandfather was a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Health Related Issues: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Frances Black: I thank the Minister and his colleagues for attending today. My question focuses on mental health in respect of the HSE national service plan, so it may be for the Minister for State, Deputy Butler. It pertains to transparency and accountability. I must say that I am very pleased to see the attention to detail and focus on the Sharing the Vision report. The report is groundbreaking and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Health Related Issues: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Frances Black: I want to ask one more question of the Minister, if there is time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Health Related Issues: Update (2 Mar 2021)

Frances Black: I would appreciate it if I could get a written answer to the question. It concerns Johnson & Johnson one-dose Covid vaccine. I know that the European Commission has stated that deliveries of this vaccine are expected to begin in early April 2021. Can the Minister provide us with an update on this one-shot vaccine? It does sound like an answer to our prayers, in one way. What is...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: International Programmes (26 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: I thank the Minister of State for taking time to discuss the Palestinian vaccination programme. I am aware Ireland has contributed and plans to spend €50 million in support of global public health, which includes COVAX. Our money is being used to fund this initiative. We have a responsibility to ensure equitable access to Covid vaccines. Ireland should be actively addressing...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: International Programmes (26 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: I thank the Minister of State for his response. It is imperative to remember at this time that despite the Palestinian Authority and Hamas supposedly being the official governments of the West Bank and Gaza, there is no doubt that Israel is really in charge. Israel controls the borders, currency, central bank and even collects taxes on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, PA. It maintains...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: I am delighted to see Senator Norris in the Chamber and back to full health. I also welcome the White Paper on ending direct provision. I visited some direct provision centres in my role as member of the justice and equality committee in the last Oireachtas. What I saw was horrendous and shocking. I have no doubt the residents are celebrating today. Hopefully, it will happen for them...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Vitamin D and Covid-19: Covit-D Consortium (23 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: I thank all the witnesses for an extremely informative discussion. Even though I was always aware that vitamin D was good I did not realise how important it is. I think it was Dr. Daniel McCartney who spoke about the importance of getting out the message, particularly in this very difficult time, about the importance of vitamin D. We need to focus on getting out that message. It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Vitamin D and Covid-19: Covit-D Consortium (23 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: I want to ask one other question if I may. Are there consequences for people who take too much vitamin D? I know the recommended level is between 2,000 and 4,000 but when my sister was in the US, for example, she used to get vitamin D supplements of 10,000. If people take too much, what are the consequences, if any?

Seanad: Councillors' Pay: Motion (22 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister of State to the House today and thank him for all the work he is doing in these trying times. I commend Senators Keogan, Craughwell and Boyhan for putting down this motion. It is of utmost importance to the councillors who elect us to the Seanad. It involves their remuneration and conditions, which are absolutely vital. We all know all politics is local. In a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: I wish to highlight the very important issue-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: I thank the Cathaoirleach. I highlight the demolition of Irish and EU-funded aid structures, including homes and schools, in the occupied Palestinian West Bank in recent months. In the past few weeks, Israeli authorities have once again demolished or confiscated homes in the Palestinian village of Humsa al Bqai’a in the northern Jordan Valley. When this village was demolished in...

Seanad: Report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation: Statements (Resumed) (19 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister to the House. A total of 550 survivors of the mother and baby homes came forward to share their testimonies of living in hellish conditions. For this report to be published they provided personal accounts, consisting of the lived experiences, to the confidential committee module of the commission's work. It is so important that we acknowledge and understand how...

Seanad: Student Nurses (Pay) Bill 2021: Second Stage (19 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister to the House. I express my wholehearted support for this Bill and commend Senator Annie Hoey and the Labour Party on their dedication and commitment to honouring the student nurses who have so bravely worked on the front line from the beginning of this pandemic without any promise of pay. It is hard to believe we do not have legislation already in place to ensure...