Results 1,861-1,880 of 1,997 for speaker:Frances Black

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...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2016: Second Stage (29 Mar 2017)

Frances Black: I commend Senators Warfield and Ruane on this great legislation and I welcome all the young people here today. Robust voter participation is fundamental to a healthy democracy and 16 and 17 year olds voting would increase voter engagement across the entire electorate. There are a few reasons the voting age should be lowered to 16. First, 16 year olds voting build lifelong voters. Second,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Penal Reform: Simon Communities of Ireland (29 Mar 2017)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses for coming in today. I am very aware of the fantastic work they all do. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be at times, particularly when working on the ground and fire-fighting most of the time. I will ask a hypothetical question. I imagine there is a high percentage of people who are in addiction or have mental health issues. Not all obviously, but I...

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2017)

Frances Black: I want to talk about the emotive topic in Ireland today that is eviction. Now, when I read the newspapers, it feels like we are turning back to the late 1800s where tenants were being evicted from their homes by rack-renting landlords but now the landlords are the foreign vulture funds and in some cases domestic lending agencies.

Seanad: Order of Business (28 Mar 2017)

Frances Black: In rural Ireland, farms are being repossessed and lands that have been in families for generations are being sold off by vulture funds. Some banks are selling off agricultural debts to multinational property asset companies which subsequently demand immediate payment of moneys owed. Fears are growing that an entire generation of farmers could be wiped out, stalling hopes of a sustainable...

Seanad: Sea-Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2017: Committee Stage (22 Mar 2017)

Frances Black: I am totally opposed to this Bill, particularly after meeting with some of the people who will be directly affected by its implementation. I want to be their voice as they feel their livelihoods are being threatened and that they will be forced to give up fishing and to give up the legacy to their families. I do not know if the Minister has seen the film "Atlantic" but I would encourage him...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Penal Reform: Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice (22 Mar 2017)

Frances Black: I thank Mr. Carroll for the great work his organisation does. It works in many areas. As Mr. Carroll was speaking, I tried to get an understanding of his experience with adolescents. If one has an adolescent who is starting to play up and get into trouble, in his experience, what would be the proper intervention services to provide or means of preventing that young person from going down...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Penal Reform: Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice (22 Mar 2017)

Frances Black: Is there a huge difference between the three institutions of Hydebank Wood Prison, Grendon Prison and St. Patrick's Institution? Would it be a good idea to take one of these models for use in this country? Mr. Carroll has spoken a little about this. If we were to choose one of these models, which one would be the best in his experience? The main element for me is always addiction and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Penal Reform: Prison Officers Association (22 Mar 2017)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses for their presentation. I wanted to ask a little more about the Villabona project in Spain to find out how it works. Mr. Clinton said that a prison estate is divided up into units for therapy and education. How does that work? On a more general level, it must be so hard for prison officers to be working in such a chaotic environment, particularly in the context of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Penal Reform: Prison Officers Association (22 Mar 2017)

Frances Black: I have one more question, if I may. In terms of the training unit, why has that not worked? How did it slip away and what were the reasons for that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Penal Reform: Prison Officers Association (22 Mar 2017)

Frances Black: Okay, so it was working really well. My apologies, I misunderstood.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Penal Reform: Prison Officers Association (22 Mar 2017)

Frances Black: Yes, we would.

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Mar 2017)

Frances Black: I offer my condolences to Captain Dara Fitzpatrick's family. I can only imagine what it has been like for them. I pay tribute to her and to Mark Duffy, Ciarán Smith and Paul Ormsby on the great work they have done down through the years and I hope and pray that Mark, Ciarán and Paul are found soon. I also pay tribute to all the volunteers and crew who are out there looking for...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion (8 Mar 2017)

Frances Black: The character of Ireland and our people is a brand in itself and we must do all that we can to support those who attend to the needs of tourists on a daily basis. We must note the good work of Tourism Ireland in recognising this hard work. It was established as one of the “six areas of co-operation” under the framework of the Belfast Agreement of Good Friday 1998. Their remit...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Penal Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (8 Mar 2017)

Frances Black: I thank the witnesses for their presentation today. Regarding the 70% of people who enter the prison system with addiction issues, does that include those with alcohol issues, gambling problems and so forth?