Results 1,861-1,880 of 2,011 for speaker:Frances Black

Seanad: Criminal Justice Bill 2016: Second Stage (30 May 2017)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister to the Chamber today and thank her for the opportunity to discuss the Bill. I support its passage to Committee Stage but there is considerable work to be done on it. The issue should be approached bearing in mind the basic principle that people are innocent until proven guilty, which is a fundamental bedrock of our legal system. As such, the decision to refuse...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with Border Communities Against Brexit (25 May 2017)

Frances Black: I will be brief. The witnesses' presentation was excellent, very clear and precise. Obviously, I am very concerned and really pick up on the anxieties. It is very scary - terrifying actually - particularly when I hear that Westminster is out of its depth and does not know what is going on or how to deal with it. That really concerns me. The fact that I am not sure that Northern Ireland...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with Dr. Duncan Morrow (25 May 2017)

Frances Black: I thank Dr. Morrow for his presentation. I totally agree that the key issues regarding the Agreement must include the nature of the Border, its management and the future competences of the three strands within the Agreement - citizenship, rights and equality. The latter are so important, as are trade, economic relations and support for reconciliation. In Dr. Morrow's experience, what is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Voting Rights in Northern Ireland: Discussion (18 May 2017)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses for the presentation. I agree that it is a reasonable constitutional step to take. I have two brothers who live in San Francisco, and they may as well be living in Ireland because they are involved with the GAA and listen to Irish radio stations. They would love to be able to vote. I worked with a man from Boston who was able to vote in the American presidential...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with Representatives of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association and Alliance of Racing and Breeding (18 May 2017)

Frances Black: I thank Mr. O'Dwyer for his presentation. I do not have a great understanding of the horse racing industry apart from going to the races. Obviously I am aware of the beauty of these incredible animals. I echo Senator Paul Daly's concern about the priority of horse racing in Mrs. May's list. The reality of going through borders, particularly from North to South would be very worrying for...

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with Macra na Feirme and the Irish Farmers Association (18 May 2017)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I am not involved in farming myself but my father was born on a farm and my cousin still runs a farm. I would have spent a lot of time on the farm and understand the complexities of farming. I also understand how hard it is for farmers, particularly those with small holdings. I can only imagine the anxiety and stress that they are under at...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 May 2017)

Frances Black: I express sadness on the death of the late journalist, Dara Quigley, who took her life on 12 April, five days after she had been detained by gardaí under the Mental Health Act. We all know that a Garda video of her detention was posted on Facebook shortly before Ms Quigley's death. Her family recently said their distress had been compounded by the publication of her name on many...

Seanad: Second Interim Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters: Statements (17 May 2017)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister and her officials to the Chamber. I am very pleased this debate is taking place today as it is long overdue. I welcome the commitments to offer support and services to people who were resident in the homes, in particular in the areas of health and well-being. It is vital that the State has a clear duty in that regard, and we need to ensure proper support is provided....

Seanad: Migrant Integration Strategy: Statements (16 May 2017)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister of State back to the Chamber to discuss Ireland’s migrant integration strategy. It is something that is very close to my heart and I welcome the initiative. As we know, Ireland is an increasingly diverse country. CSO data from 2016 show that roughly one in ten people living here define as non-Irish, while last year saw net inward migration to the State for the...

Seanad: Migrant Integration Strategy: Statements (16 May 2017)

Frances Black: Economic integration is an essential precursor to real integration for migrants. This situation cannot continue. I urge the State and the Minister of State to work closely with civil society organisations like the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, the Irish Refugee Council and the Immigrant Council of Ireland. I thank the Acting Chairman and I apologise for going over time.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Engagement with Mr. Eamon Gilmore (11 May 2017)

Frances Black: I thank Mr. Gilmore for attending the committee today. I really appreciate the amount of work he has put into the presentation, which was clear and precise. My father came from Rathlin Island which is off the north Antrim coast. I have very clear memories of going through the Border as a child. It was traumatic to see army men with guns and I would always ask why they were there. It was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Criminal Justice (Aggravation by Prejudice) Bill 2016: Discussion (12 Apr 2017)

Frances Black: I do not have questions but I would like to thank the Deputy for introducing this legislation. I apologise for not attending the briefing on it but I was away. A dear friend of mine from Pakistan who was a victim of a hate crime was there. I have worked alongside her. She is a volunteer for the charitable organisation I have set up and she is a close friend. She came to me after the...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (12 Apr 2017)

Frances Black: It might be a surprise to some that I support this legislation. I have spoken openly on the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill and will probably speak on it again today. It is something that I am extremely passionate about. Unfortunately, people might think I am in the temperance movement given I am so passionate about that Bill. However, I support this legislation because, in recent years,...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Apr 2017)

Frances Black: Today, I wish to highlight an issue around direct provision. Our treatment of the thousands of people in direct provision throughout this country is nothing short of a scandal. A country coming to terms with the awful abuse inflicted on people in the mother and baby homes, the Magdalen laundries and other State and religious institutions is now sowing the seeds for future shame. The...

Seanad: Adult Safeguarding Bill: Second Stage (5 Apr 2017)

Frances Black: I commend Senator Kelleher on introducing this Bill and all those who have supported it. I wholeheartedly welcome this legislation because we all know that some of the most heinous crimes committed in this country target the vulnerable. I believe this legislation tackles the abuse of vulnerable adults and will lead to equality of treatment of all people. Abuse of the vulnerable can take...

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Black: I was not.

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Statements (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister to the House. I am sorry he thought I was on my phone, I was taking notes on the Minister's speech. I express my sorrow at the passing of Martin McGuinness who was a great leader. He will be sadly missed in the negotiations that need to be finalised before the Executive is restored in the North. Michelle O'Neill is well capable of the work ahead but Martin...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Recent Controversies Concerning An Garda Síochána (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Black: I have just one question and it follows on from the questions asked by Deputy Jack Chambers earlier. Why has all of this happened? What was the thinking behind it? It is awful that the number of breathalyser tests was overstated by 1 million. Has this been used as a justification for Garda overtime? I know we spoke about bonuses earlier. Were gardaí getting overtime for this and,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Recent Controversies Concerning An Garda Síochána (30 Mar 2017)

Frances Black: Does the Commissioner think it would have played a role?

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Mar 2017)

Frances Black: I wish to raise an issue that I discussed on 7 March when we debated the Grace case. I asked how many similar cases there were and whether there were other cases in which the HSE, Tusla or the Garda had been made aware of sexual or physical abuse allegations against a foster parent but the child had not been removed from the home. It is important that we know that no other children are...