Results 1,541-1,560 of 2,011 for speaker:Frances Black

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...

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

Frances Black: Does the office always contact management to let it know?

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

Frances Black: I have a problem with that. We have heard that residents in visiting centres are afraid to engage with the system. As a lot of the centres have cameras, management can see them. They are afraid that, after the Ombudsman's staff leave, they may be treated disrespectfully and get into trouble if they talk to them. They are afraid to go into the rooms where interviews happen, lest they be...

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

Frances Black: Some of the centres are quite well run and management is great.

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

Frances Black: However, there are others, probably more than we can imagine. When management of such centres knows that the Ombudsman's representatives are coming, it is not in the best interests of the people who are in the centre. Those people are scared and frightened. There is also that piece about language. We met some of the residents and they were very depressed, low and frightened,...

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

Frances Black: Okay. And do representatives of the Ombudsman for Children also contact management to let them know they are coming?

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

Frances Black: That is fine. I hope that the Ombudsman will consider something along those lines, where spot checks can be done and the Ombudsman's representatives can call unannounced. The residents would really appreciate that. Those could even be done off-site, which is something that would be really powerful.

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

Frances Black: One of the Deputies mentioned the role of non-governmental organisations, NGOs. Would that be something the Ombudsman might consider? If somebody complains to an NGO, would the Ombudsman consider talking to them or how would that work?

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

Frances Black: Okay.

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

Frances Black: Maybe it is a case that it has not yet happened.

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

Frances Black: It is fair comment.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Jul 2019)

Frances Black: I express my sympathies to the families of Noel Whelan and Brendan Grace. I did not know Noel Whelan but I was a huge admirer of his. He was a fantastic commentator and he will be a huge loss to Ireland. He was too young. I knew Brendan Grace well and travelled on tour with him many years ago in Australia. He was a pure gentleman and will also be a huge loss to Ireland. The briefing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Spent Convictions: Discussion (10 Jul 2019)

Frances Black: I welcome Senator Ruane and everyone who has spoken. There is no doubt that this is a vital issue and I was delighted to co-sponsor Senator Ruane's Bill. This is about changing people's lives for the better and there is no doubt that everybody deserves a second, and possibly even a third, chance. I have worked in the field of addiction and with women in the prison service, the majority...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Spent Convictions: Discussion (10 Jul 2019)

Frances Black: Will Senator Ruane give us more detail on the length of the rehabilitative periods outlined in the Bill and some of the considerations?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Jul 2019)

Frances Black: I, too, welcome Senator Lawless' family. It is almost ironic that Senator Lawless worked so hard for the undocumented Irish in the US when a briefing was held today by the Migrant Rights Centre. A young woman aged 24, Rashmi, said she left school six years ago and all her friends went to college and now have jobs. She was accepted recently into two colleges, but unfortunately she cannot...

Seanad: Adoption, Information and Tracing: Statements (19 Jun 2019)

Frances Black: I thank the Minister for coming into the House today. It is welcome that the relevant legislation has been removed from the schedule for this afternoon. I thank the Minister for that. It is important that we get an update from the Minister on the Department's position and proposals. The major level of public interest in this Bill is testament to how important it is to so many people and...

Seanad: Community Participation (Disability) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (19 Jun 2019)

Frances Black: Is there time?