Results 1,521-1,540 of 2,007 for speaker:Frances Black

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.

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

Frances Black: Yes.

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

Frances Black: That would be great.

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

Frances Black: That is great. I thank our guests for their presentations. Deputy Connolly spoke about what An Garda Síochána is working on at this time and it sounds as if there is a lack of resources. This should be one of the top priorities going forward. It is a minefield and it is difficult but people being bullied online is one of the most worrying trends we must face. I sometimes see it...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (1 Oct 2019)

Frances Black: I welcome the Tánaiste back to the Seanad. I appreciate his continued engagement with the House on Brexit. I have listened closely to each address and participated in each debate we have had on this issue. As a member of the Seanad Special Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and as someone who is extremely committed to avoiding the return of a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee
Integrated Education: Discussion (26 Sep 2019)

Frances Black: I apologise that I will have to leave the meeting a little early to attend to another commitment. I very much wanted to attend the meeting and wish I could stay for the whole afternoon because I am very interested in the subject matter. When I attended a social event in the North approximately a month ago, I met a teacher from an integrated school. I am ashamed to say I had not even been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee
Integrated Education: Discussion (26 Sep 2019)

Frances Black: I apologise. I always like to think ahead. Our guests will win the prize and there is no doubt they deserve it. I am intrigued by how integrated education works. It is powerful to think there are so many cross-community students in the school, although I have no doubt some issues must arise there. Are there times when there could be problems between groups from two different...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Business of Joint Committee
Integrated Education: Discussion (26 Sep 2019)

Frances Black: What problems arise with integration? If so, how were they overcome? Have any major lessons been learned since the school opened?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Sep 2019)

Frances Black: I welcome my colleagues back to the House. I am delighted that we are back in session. I look forward to the busy months ahead. I arrived back in Dublin yesterday from Oslo, Norway. I had been invited to meet parliamentarians and the Norwegian foreign affairs committee about my Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 which, having passed fully through the House with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Frances Black: I thank Mr. Tyndall for his presentation and for the reports. The oversight of his office is important. I also support extending it to cover those other administrative matters. I wish to follow up on an answer to Deputy Connolly's question regarding the vulnerability assessment. I have read replies to parliamentary questions on this, which describe a basic medical screening carried out in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Direct Provision: Discussion with Ombudsman (25 Sep 2019)

Frances Black: When we visited direct provision centres, I found that mental health was one of the biggest issues for clients. Can the witnesses talk us through how a standard interaction between their offices and a centre works? Perhaps they could pick one centre and tell us how often the Ombudsman is there, how many staff attend, how the meetings are carried out. I just want to get a clear...