Results 1,681-1,700 of 2,007 for speaker:Frances Black

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Role of Women) Bill: Discussion (19 Sep 2018)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses for fantastic presentations this morning. It goes without saying that this is a very complex situation. It definitely needs to be investigated a lot more. I particularly commend Dr. Cahillane on her clear and useful presentation. I have a couple of short questions. First, the Minister said that a replacement clause could have unpredictable legal consequences. Is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Role of Women) Bill: Discussion (19 Sep 2018)

Frances Black: I said the Constitution can be useful in setting a floor of basic rights below which government and policy cannot go. Most recently, the decision on asylum seekers was raised by the commission. In that case, the Supreme Court did not impose a huge positive obligation on the State but instead ruled that asylum seekers should have a bare minimum access to work. Could we see this in the same...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Role of Women) Bill: Discussion (19 Sep 2018)

Frances Black: I have one question. Witnesses will forgive me if I missed the answer to this. I wish to ask IHEC and Dr. Cahillane their thoughts on a citizens' assembly. Would it be a good idea to go ahead with a citizens' assembly and follow the model of the repeal of the eighth amendment?

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jul 2018)

Frances Black: I want to say a few words about the progressing of my Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 yesterday. I thank Senators across the House for their strong support. A fantastic photograph was sent to me this morning of the Irish flag over City Hall in Ramallah in Palestine. It means a lot to the Palestinian people that this legislation progressed yesterday. I did not...

Seanad: Situation in Palestine: Statements (11 Jul 2018)

Frances Black: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Situation in Palestine: Statements (Resumed) (11 Jul 2018)

Frances Black: It will be divided five minutes and three minutes.

Seanad: Situation in Palestine: Statements (Resumed) (11 Jul 2018)

Frances Black: I am a little bit nervous because I am told that the whole of Palestine is watching us today, so Members can imagine that I am anxious. I want to ensure that I say everything I need to. Last night, I welcomed two amazing Palestinian farmers to Dublin. Mona and Fayez travelled all the way from the West Bank to meet ordinary Irish people and groups that had been fundraising, holding public...

Seanad: Situation in Palestine: Statements (Resumed) (11 Jul 2018)

Frances Black: Ireland has the opportunity to take a lead on this and to make a clear, principled case, grounded in international law, that other states will follow. We are not looking to go it alone, but to lead. This is not a radical demand. We are simply asking for consistency in our foreign policy and a disassociation from clear violations of international law. The Bill will not end trade in Israeli...

Seanad: Situation in Palestine: Statements (Resumed) (11 Jul 2018)

Frances Black: -----I will close by saying that this is a modest proposal. It does not place sanctions on any one country.It is not ending diplomatic ties. It is simply saying that if we are sure certain goods have been produced as the result of war crimes, we should not be trading in them. To me, this is the bare minimum that should be expected of an EU member state and a country committed to justice...

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2018)

Frances Black: I thank all of the Senators who are supporting the Bill. I thank Sinn Féin, the Labour Party and, of course, the Independent Senators who support it. I especially thank Fianna Fáil. Deputy Niall Collins travelled to Palestine to educate himself on the issue. When he came back, he was clear about how he felt. He saw the situation in Palestine at first hand, as I did. I am...

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Jul 2018)

Frances Black: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Second Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Frances Black: I speak broadly in support of the Bill at this Stage. I will be brief as I know we will have many contributions. This legislation has been controversial, and a large number of amendments were tabled in the Dáil. Many of those have ironed out some of the more contentious issues, but others remain. There is a valuable discussion to be had in terms of the size of the commission and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Good Friday Agreement: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Jun 2018)

Frances Black: I apologise for missing Dr. Byrne's presentation. I will keep it very short. Earlier this year, the Tánaiste spoke at a celebration of the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement at St. Mary's College in west Belfast. I would like to hear what Dr. Byrne thinks about something that was said during the subsequent panel discussion, which covered the implications of Brexit. Both sides...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Good Friday Agreement: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Jun 2018)

Frances Black: What does Dr. Byrne mean by leadership? Is he talking about the DUP or about leaders who are quite strong within their own communities? Is it more about leadership within certain communities?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Good Friday Agreement: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Jun 2018)

Frances Black: I have a final question. From the witness's perspective, what does he think we as a committee could do? Has he any suggestions? He talked about more debates between the two communities, and society getting more involved. Can he give a couple of suggestions that he thinks we should be working on or that we should be doing more of? We want to get active on this. We want to do something...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Frances Black: I will try to be brief. I commend the Minister on his work recently with the Magdalen women, which was phenomenal. I welcome the fact the Minister will meet the McAnespie family. I cannot imagine what it must be like for them. I have specific questions on the right to work for asylum seekers following the points raised by Deputy Daly. I share her concerns and the restrictive interim right...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána Oversight and Accountability: Minister for Justice and Equality (13 Jun 2018)

Frances Black: I refer to penal policy and the urgency around the mental health issue in the prison service. I want to highlight the urgency of this issue and how important it is. From my own experience of working in the prison service with those in addiction and with family members who have loved ones in addiction, I believe there is a huge urgency around this issue. Addiction problems in the prison...

Seanad: Report on Children's Mental Health Services: Statements (Resumed) (30 May 2018)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister of State. This is a vital issue and none of us can be happy to be standing here again debating it. The point has been made endlessly in these Houses, and this report is further evidence, that our child and adolescent mental health services are falling well short of what is expected. We are not delivering anywhere near the standard expected by Irish people, and we are...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2018)

Frances Black: I welcome the result of the referendum last Friday. It was an incredible result. The people of Ireland have spoken and it is important that we listen. For the women of Ireland it means a sense of freedom and that is really important. I commend my colleague, Senator Bacik, on the great work she has done, along with Deputies Clare Daly and Zappone and the many other women and men who have...

Seanad: National Minimum Wage (Removal of Sub-minimum Rates of Pay) Bill 2017: Second Stage (29 May 2018)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and commend Senators Gavan, Ruane and Warfield on tabling this Bill. I am delighted to speak strongly in its support. We are dealing with a very basic principle here, which is that of equal pay for equal work. It is the same principle underlying recent pushes to close the gender pay gap, and ensure that women are paid as much as their male colleagues....