Results 1,441-1,460 of 2,007 for speaker:Frances Black

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...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: The EU and Irish Unity - Planning and Preparing for Constitutional Change in Ireland: Discussion (16 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses for a very clear and comprehensive contribution. Both statements were fantastic. What I am hearing today is that it is absolutely vital that we plan and prepare for constitutional change. It is so important that we advocate and promote debate and discussion, including the possibility or viability of new constitutional arrangements on the island of Ireland. That is...

Seanad: Mental Health and Covid-19: Statements (12 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister of State. I agree with Senator Gavan that she has a tough job ahead of her. She is a compassionate person and I wish her well in her role. As I am sure the Minister of State is aware, mental health activism is a passion of mine in my work as a therapist and a politician. I set up the RISE Foundation to work with and support family members of a loved one who has an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Business of Joint Committee (9 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: I might not be able to make it, but I am not sure yet. I have another committee meeting and I do not know what time it will be over.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement: IBEC and Food Drink Ireland (9 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: I will be brief. I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I have a couple of questions relating to Border communities. From the witnesses' perspective on Border communities and the 30,000 frontier workers who cross the Border weekly, what impact has Brexit had on IBEC's trade associations in Border communities and the North? What unique challenges face micro, small and medium...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: I believe I must raise an issue of great importance to people of all communities in the North who were bereaved or injured during the conflict.The relatives of persons killed by all armed actors in the conflict - republican, loyalist and the British state - need a human rights-compliant remedy in the form of the legacy mechanisms that were agreed in Stormont House and signed by both...

Seanad: Free Provision of Period Products Bill 2021: Second Stage (8 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: I commend Senator Clifford-Lee on tabling this Bill which tackles the everyday injustices felt by people during their menstruation cycles. It is essential that in 2021 we see legislation to end the prominent problem of period poverty in support of women's rights. Periods are not a luxury. They are an everyday life reality and there should be absolutely no barriers to accessing the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Covid-19 in Nursing Homes (2 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: I welcome all of our witnesses and wish to acknowledge the fantastic work of the healthcare workers and their families. I also wish to send my condolences to all of those families who have lost loved ones. It has been a very difficult year for so many people. A lot of the questions I wished to ask have already been answered but I have one or two questions on the increase in the number of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: I wish everyone a happy St. Brigid's Day on this fine spring day. Although we have had two debates on mother and baby homes, I feel I have to raise the issue again. We learned over the weekend that the audio recordings of the testimonies of survivors of the institutions had been destroyed. Many survivors have expressed anger at this latest development, saying they were not informed when...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: Will the Minister come in to talk about Bessborough House?

Seanad: Response to Covid-19 (Social Protection): Statements (1 Feb 2021)

Frances Black: Like previous speakers, I congratulate the Minister on becoming a grandmother. I can guarantee it is the best feeling in the world. I have two grandchildren and I know the Minister has many happy days and joy ahead. I also commend her on the phenomenal work she and her Department have done in the past year. Who would have thought this time last year what was ahead of us? Nobody knew it....