Results 1,841-1,860 of 2,011 for speaker:Frances Black

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Pensions: Discussion (12 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses for their attendance and presentation to members. I also thank them for all the service they have given to their country and to the people within the communities in which they worked. I agree with Senator Conway that this is a significant miscarriage of justice for them. We are the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality and this needs to be addressed. I hope the...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: I wish to offer condolences on the passing away of the little two year old boy, to his mother and to the family. It is devastating. I want to speak today on the broadcasting of our national games. One of the great organisations in the State is the GAA. The pleasure given to the population from wonderful hurling and football matches is immense. When a county is doing well, the mood of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: I was going to second it before the end of the Order of Business.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: I was not aware of that.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: I appreciate the outstanding work the witnesses do. There seems to be a lot of firefighting and it must be very difficult without the supports. There will obviously be burnout and this is a particular problem when one works with children. I want to get the opinions of witnesses on what Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, the Government special rapporteur for child protection, said a couple of weeks ago.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Children's Mental Health Services: Discussion (6 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: I am looking for answers. The biggest challenge facing society is the adverse consequences for the welfare of many children posed by alcohol. Drug and alcohol abuse are key features in this report and they have a damaging effect on children. The failure by society to address alcohol as a fundamental problem places insurmountable problems on the child protection system. It is not just...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: Yesterday evening I had the pleasure as the chair of the cross-party Oireachtas Friends of Palestine committee to be present in the audiovisual room to watch one of the most powerful and upsetting films I have ever seen, entitled "This is Palestine". Directors John and Gerry McColgan, working alongside Trócaire, have produced a great piece of work showing the everyday lives of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of the Data Protection Bill 2017: Discussion (Resumed) (5 Jul 2017)

Frances Black: I thank Dr. Shannon. He is a breath of fresh air at last. I will refer to the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill because Dr. Shannon referred to it, and I thank him for that. At last, I feel that somebody else is being a voice for children and families who have been impacted and devastated by alcohol and Ireland's unhealthy relationship with alcohol. To refer back to the data protection...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: General Scheme of Data Protection Bill 2017: Discussion (14 Jun 2017)

Frances Black: I thank Ms Dixon for her very clear and precise presentation. This is not an area I am familiar with, and I appreciate her coming in today to give a good explanation of what it is all about. I think the legislation is very positive. I imagine it is also a minefield. What does Ms Dixon think are going to be issues? Resources are obviously one. What other challenges does she think there...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Jun 2017)

Frances Black: I would like to highlight the pre-budget submission published by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul earlier. I attended the launch of the submission and while I should not be shocked, I was. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an amazing organisation, which has helped many people in need through the Famine, the War of Independence, Civil War, two world wars and several economic...

Seanad: Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Jun 2017)

Frances Black: I support my colleagues, Senators Alice Mary Higgins and Lynn Ruane, in proposing these amendments, which are related to the post-adoption supports available to parents and adopted children. Often we see informal arrangements put in place between new adoptive parents and birth parents. This should always be driven by what is in the best interests of the child. However, these arrangements...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on the Future of the European Union (7 Jun 2017)

Frances Black: I thank Mr. Cox for his fantastic presentation. He is a wealth of knowledge. We have been sitting here for the last few weeks. Many groups have come . Different organisations, businesses and the agriculture industry have come in and their biggest fear has been the hard border and how shocking it would be. I also fear a hard border. I hear what Mr. Cox is saying about Theresa May and how...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with Local Authorities (7 Jun 2017)

Frances Black: It was powerful to listen to the presentations. I was quite moved by the feeling of unity, particularly among the Border communities. As one Senator said, it is the first time one can feel that sense of unity and power in numbers. As the Acting Chairmanl noted, we are members of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. If any of the representatives want us...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Implications of Brexit for the Environment: Discussion (1 Jun 2017)

Frances Black: I thank the delegates for their attendance. Both Brexit and climate change are very worrying issues. I have a special connection to the North because my father comes from Rathlin Island. I am very conscious of all of the work in which the delegates are involved in the RSPB, the National Trust and farming and I have strong connections to all of it. This should be a priority in the Brexit...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Implications of Brexit for the Environment: Discussion (1 Jun 2017)

Frances Black: That would be great. I know time is a problem but if the delegates could even give me a written submission, I could certainly put it in for the report.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement on Relations between the State and Northern Ireland (1 Jun 2017)

Frances Black: I thank Dr. Murphy for her excellent presentation. Even though when one paints a picture it can be quite bleak, hers was a very positive and hopeful presentation. If we take on what she said and it all worked out, it could be almost historic. I am mindful that the breakdown in trust between the two parties is very difficult. It is hard to even think about how that trust will come back....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: General Scheme of Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Presidential Voting) Bill 2014 [Private Members']: Discussion (1 Jun 2017)

Frances Black: I thank Deputies Crowe and Adams for their presentations. I, too, attend today to support this important legislation. Senator Billy Lawless lives for part of the year in the United States where he works with members of the Irish diaspora, many of whom are struggling. He understands the issues that arise in this regard. I know from family living in the North that the rights conferred under...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 May 2017)

Frances Black: Yesterday, I was delighted to hear the Supreme Court's unanimous ruling that the policy of banning asylum seekers from working was unconstitutional. This is a landmark decision with major implications for how we treat asylum seekers in this country. I have raised it here before and human rights organisations have been saying it for years but the system of direct provision is a disgrace. We...

Seanad: Report on Use of Section 12 of Child Care Act by An Garda Síochána: Statements (31 May 2017)

Frances Black: I warmly welcome the Minister to the Chamber. I am aware that this is as devastating for her as it is for the rest of us. I know she is a very compassionate person who cares a lot about children. I have no doubt she is doing her best to change the situation, particularly in regard to this report. It is devastating. Like my colleague, I am deeply saddened by what I have heard. In fact,...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 May 2017)

Frances Black: I listened to Dr. Geoffrey Shannon earlier talk about the findings in his report, which are devastating. The entire country is impacted by what we heard. While the report as a whole is harrowing, I was particularly struck by the clear focus on alcohol abuse in Ireland and how it impacts on child welfare. It is time that we started to talk about it.It states that in a significant number of...