Results 1,501-1,520 of 1,997 for speaker:Frances Black

Seanad: Illegal Drugs: Motion (13 Nov 2019)

Frances Black: I second the amendment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) (Amendment) Bill 2018: Discussion (13 Nov 2019)

Frances Black: I thank Deputy O'Callaghan and the witnesses. Sexual, domestic and gender-based violence are important issues and I am glad the committee is taking them so seriously. I wish to note some points and then I will ask a question. I welcome the Bill and offer it my strong support. It is a short, concise Bill, which does not seek to move mountains. It would secure greater information and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Nov 2019)

Frances Black: This morning, I got the chance to speak with representatives from the Local Authority Members Association, LAMA. My colleague, Senator Craughwell, mentioned it and I know this is something the Leader is aware of also. LAMA represents councillors across 31 local authorities and it has been working hard to raise concerns about the working conditions that are driving many away from local...

Seanad: Health Services Provision: Statements (12 Nov 2019)

Frances Black: I thank Senator Humphreys and the all-party working group on dementia for getting this debate onto the agenda. This is a hugely important issue for me and I am shocked that it is even necessary to have the debate. A friend of mine, Don O'Neill who lives in New York, is a very well-known fashion designer and he held a fashion show as a fundraiser a couple of years ago. I went along to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Voting and Citizenship Rights of Citizens in Northern Ireland: Discussion (7 Nov 2019)

Frances Black: I thank Professor Harvey for his presentation today. It is great to see him again. He always gives very clear and precise presentations. I will make a few points and I ask Professor Harvey to comment on them and give his view. Ireland is an outlier on this issue. Of the 28 EU member states, 24 allow their citizens to vote from abroad, while only four, Malta, Cypress, Denmark and Ireland,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Oct 2019)

Frances Black: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Oct 2019)

Frances Black: No. 4. I propose that No. 4 not be brought to a conclusion after three hours, if not concluded. Very important amendments are proposed to the Social Welfare Bill and there is no good reason for the proposed guillotine on the debate.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Oct 2019)

Frances Black: Yes. I attended a briefing this morning with a delegation from the Border Communities Against Brexit. I want to relay some the concerns they spoke about this morning. To be honest, I came out of it a little traumatised after listening to the fear and uncertainty facing the people living on either side of the Border. It is very worrying and extremely frustrating. They feel they are not...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Oct 2019)

Frances Black: Tá sé.

Seanad: Free Education (Prohibition of Fees and Charges) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber. I would like to speak briefly to section 1. I will stick to that section. I know we are not on Second Stage but I would like to put on record just a few points about the section. I hope that is acceptable. I commend Senator Ó Ríordáin and his colleagues in the Labour Party.

Seanad: Free Education (Prohibition of Fees and Charges) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Frances Black: In that case, I apologise. I commend my colleague, Senator Ó Ríordáin, and his colleagues in the Labour Party on introducing the Bill. I support it fully. I have no doubt that it prohibits the charging of fees in regard to admission, enrolment, providing education or specific school activities. I really wanted to speak about section 1 so I apologise. I support my...

Seanad: Free Education (Prohibition of Fees and Charges) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Frances Black: There is no doubt but that this is the right thing to do.

Seanad: Free Education (Prohibition of Fees and Charges) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Frances Black: I will be able to make the very brilliant speech I have just written.

Seanad: Free Education (Prohibition of Fees and Charges) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (9 Oct 2019)

Frances Black: All I can say is that I welcome the Bill. I have two grandchildren. I know families who struggle paying the extra fees. I have worked with them down through the years. I welcome the legislation. It is fantastic that there is cross-party support today.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Implications for Ireland of the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU in Regard to the Education and Research Sector (9 Oct 2019)

Frances Black: The witnesses have answered many of my questions. I will ask them to expand a little further. I thank them for their presentations. I have been listening to them and thinking what a disaster Brexit is. Senator Craughwell and I attended a briefing this morning by Border Communities Against Brexit. Their fears and anxieties are beyond the beyond. Last week, my colleague Senator Higgins...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Implications for Ireland of the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU in Regard to the Education and Research Sector (9 Oct 2019)

Frances Black: No, they will not be cancelled. Vert well. On the general data protection regulation, GDPR, if the UK becomes a third country after Brexit, how will that work in terms of transferring research data from UK universities to Irish universities? I am greatly concerned about the impact it will have on students. It is great that the memorandum of understanding agreed in May 2019 covers the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Online Harassment and Harmful Communications: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. Deputy Chambers covered many of the questions I wanted to ask. This area is a minefield. As Deputy Connolly said, it is very upsetting to hear about what is happening. We know what is happening and we know about online abuse. We hear stories of children being bullied online and suicides. I am a grandmother with two very small grandchildren...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Online Harassment and Harmful Communications: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Frances Black: Would I be right in saying that this would be their only argument?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Online Harassment and Harmful Communications: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Frances Black: Have any studies been done on children or young people and their relationship with social media? I am not just talking about children. I am referring to us all. One hears about the really strong connection - almost addiction. They are almost addicted to it. We can all get caught up in it, including me.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Online Harassment and Harmful Communications: Discussion (2 Oct 2019)

Frances Black: We are only talking about the bleak side today.