Results 1,461-1,480 of 2,007 for speaker:Frances Black

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Update (29 Jan 2021)

Frances Black: I warmly welcome all our witnesses today and thank them for all their hard work at this extremely challenging and stressful time. I welcome that the HSE, along with other agencies and bodies, has created a strategy to promote accurate information around vaccinations nationwide. However, I am concerned and I believe we cannot ignore the fact that there is a need for a public health...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Update (29 Jan 2021)

Frances Black: Deputy Hourigan touched on this and I want to express my anxiety on it. We know of the Government's categorisation of key workers under its roll-out plan. However, SNAs are not considered key workers. UK research shows that SNAs cannot socially distance and have increased risk of contracting Covid-19. Will SNAs be included with healthcare workers for vaccination? Similarly, will personal...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Impact of High Levels of Covid-19 on the Health System: Discussion (22 Jan 2021)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses for all the sterling work they are doing. I cannot even imagine the pressure they must be feeling. I have more of a comment to make than a question to ask. I hope I have not misinterpreted the vaccine arrangement that NPHET thinks will allow travel. It is important to look at mandatory quarantine. I read a tweet that really impacted me this morning from a young...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Impact of High Levels of Covid-19 on the Health System: Discussion (22 Jan 2021)

Frances Black: Can the committee hear me now? Is that any better? I will turn it up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Impact of High Levels of Covid-19 on the Health System: Discussion (22 Jan 2021)

Frances Black: Will I say it again? Can the committee hear me?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Impact of High Levels of Covid-19 on the Health System: Discussion (22 Jan 2021)

Frances Black: I do not have any headset. I will repeat what I said as quickly as possible. I was talking about the importance of mandatory quarantine. I did hear what Dr. Glynn said about NPHET's current position on travel, namely, that the regime is not sufficient. I heard him say that earlier to Deputy Shortall. I wanted to put on the record that I read a tweet this morning from a young woman who...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Impact of High Levels of Covid-19 on the Health System: Discussion (22 Jan 2021)

Frances Black: I wish to ask one final question but I am unsure whether Dr. Glynn can answer it. We have seen a large amount of misinformation online in recent weeks on vaccination. How can we communicate to those people and others that the reality is that the vaccine is safe? That is all I have to ask.

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

Frances Black: I would like to wish everybody, including the staff here in Leinster House, a healthy and peaceful new year. I will not get an opportunity to speak in the debate this afternoon because of Covid-19 guidelines but I want to address the inhumane treatment of the people who were the residents of the mother and baby institutions. Their treatment has been compounded by the leaking of the report...

Seanad: Deportation Moratorium (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (9 Dec 2020)

Frances Black: I will be sharing my time with Senator Flynn, if the House agrees.

Seanad: Deportation Moratorium (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Second Stage (9 Dec 2020)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister to the House and I also congratulate her on her wonderful news. I am very proud today to co-sign this legislation with my colleagues from the Civil Engagement Group. This Bill provides proportionate protection to the 469 people who have received deportation letters in the midst of this Covid-19 crisis. This legislation accurately recognises the threat of Covid-19 to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: The Northern Ireland Economy: Discussion (8 Dec 2020)

Frances Black: I thank Professor FitzGerald and Professor Morgenroth for their attendance and for their interesting presentations. It is important for us to get the views of the economic experts when we are considering the future of this island. I have a few general questions. The first concerns the economic impact of Brexit. What economic impact will Brexit have on Northern Ireland over the next five...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: The Northern Ireland Economy: Discussion (8 Dec 2020)

Frances Black: I will ask one final question if the Chairman does not mind. Do the witnesses agree that the island of Ireland would be better off in the longer term as one fully integrated economic unit within the EU? I would like to hear their thoughts on that.

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Frances Black: I welcome the legislation in its attempts to ground us in some certainty in these nebulous times as we face the onset of Brexit and all that the next few months will present. In particular, I commend the attempts to protect the important spirit of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 and to mitigate, where practicable, the potential disturbance caused by the withdrawal of the United Kingdom...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Dec 2020)

Frances Black: On Monday last, I was disappointed when the British Government rejected the calls to carry out a full and thorough inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane. This rejection just compounds the pain and trauma of the Finucane family. Geraldine Finucane said it was an insult that the investigation was refused. I cannot begin to imagine the pain experienced by the family and friends of Pat...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (2 Dec 2020)

Frances Black: I thank the Minister for coming in. I do not know how he keeps going. He is doing a great job on Brexit, and we really appreciate his taking the time to come before us because we know he is very busy. I am still a little bit confused about several points and I want to check on them. The measures set out in the omnibus Bill to protect the common travel area and North-South co-operation are...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Nov 2020)

Frances Black: I wish to highlight today the Government’s White Paper on ending direct provision, which is scheduled to be published before the end of 2020. It is essential that we put pressure on the legislators to use the key recommendations of the groundbreaking report by Catherine Day. We must see an end to direct provision, an end to institutionalised living and an end to congregated...

Seanad: Inquiry into the Murder of Mr. Patrick Finucane: Motion (25 Nov 2020)

Frances Black: I would like to share time with Senator Higgins.

Seanad: Inquiry into the Murder of Mr. Patrick Finucane: Motion (25 Nov 2020)

Frances Black: The Minister is welcome to the House and it is good to see him here. I also extend a warm welcome to John Finucane. I commend Senator Ó Donnghaile's motion calling for a public inquiry into the assassination of solicitor Pat Finucane in 1989, which I am delighted to have signed. It is great to see such cross-party co-operation. As people have rightly said today, Geraldine Finucane is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Cross-Border Further and Higher Education Sectors: Discussion (19 Nov 2020)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses for their clear presentations. This is something I am not really familiar with. The role they play in cross-Border co-operation and education is phenomenal and I admire them for that. I hope this is not a naive question. Do they think Brexit will negatively impact cross-Border collaboration in third-level education? Second, what are the main obstacles to student...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Nov 2020)

Frances Black: I raise an issue which I have previously brought to the attention of the House. It is a very important matter. It is essential that we discuss the plight of the Debenhams workers and their appalling treatment by the company in their redundancy dispute. The Irish branch of Debenhams, which operated 11 stores, was put into liquidation on 9 April. The stores' closures came once the UK parent...