Results 1,961-1,980 of 2,011 for speaker:Frances Black

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Maghaberry Prison: Discussion (3 Nov 2016)

Frances Black: I will brief. I thank the witnesses for coming here today and for giving us an insight into what is happening. I thank my colleague, Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan, also for bringing this issue to the fore. I am shocked and saddened by what I have heard today. I can only imagine the witnesses' frustration. All of them have been doing Trojan work for the past few years, and I thank them for...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: I am confused on the amendments. Are we on amendments Nos. 4, 7 to 9, inclusive, and 12?

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: Are we finished on them?

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: I thank the Minister of State for outlining the Government amendments. The Minister of State is doing a great job and I appreciate the great work she is doing on the Bill. She can be assured of my support for all her amendments. However, I will speak on amendments Nos. 4, 7 to 9, inclusive, 12 and 38 to 40, inclusive. I thank Senators Rose Conway-Walsh, Máire Devine, Paul Gavan,...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: I thank the Minister of State for her replies and I welcome the commitment she gave today to the amendments that we tabled. I will not be pressing for a vote because I want to allow time for a further debate on Committee Stage.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: I want to raise an issue I am extremely passionate about. I encourage the Members present to engage with the facts in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, Committee Stage of which will be taken in this House tomorrow. My entry point to this issue is the impact of alcohol-related harm, which I witness every day through my work with the RISE Foundation. I really believe that, as a nation, we...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: I want to make it clear that I am looking forward to the debate tomorrow. I hope to have time to debate each amendment, and I ask the Leader to encourage fellow Senators to stand together and support the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill-----

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: -----but I want to make an important point about the drinks industry. The lobbying that has been going on, which needs to be raised here today, has been over the top.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: I have seen it myself, and it is not right. I am a new Member of the Seanad and I cannot believe the power it has. I needed to make that point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Implications for Good Friday Agreement of UK EU Referendum Result: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: My colleague, Mr. Francie Molloy, MP talked about the Good Friday Agreement, which is the reason we are all here. It is one of the most important issues and it is very important that we implement the Good Friday Agreement. The reality is that if Brexit damages that in any way, we are in serious trouble. I am concerned that we are in a crisis. Given that we have to implement the Good...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Implications for Good Friday Agreement of UK EU Referendum Result: Discussion (Resumed) (20 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: And an Irish Minister.

Seanad: Fire Safety in Traveller Accommodation: Statements (19 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: I really will keep it brief. I thank the Minister for coming in today. I had a speech ready but my colleague, Deputy Kelleher, just said it all. What she said in her speech is fantastic. I welcome the citizens of the Traveller community who are here today and I convey my condolences to the families of Carrickmines. When I heard my colleague's speech, it reminded me of being born and...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Second Stage (19 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: I wish to share time with Senator Lynn Ruane.

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Second Stage (19 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: I welcome the citizens from the deaf community and from Bishopstown Community School. I commend Senator Mark Daly on the fantastic work he has done in the Committee on Justice and Equality on the issue of the Irish Sign Language Bill and in bringing the legislation forward. I was not aware of this so I appreciate the education I got on this issue in the committee. I was initially appalled...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Priorities for Garda Inspectorate: Discussion (19 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: I thank the delegates for attending and congratulate them on their recommendations. I am frustrated by the lack of implementation. If I feel frustrated, I cannot imagine what it must be like for the delegates. Mr. Toland made a point about the problems encountered. Some of the recommendations from a few years ago, perhaps 2009, were not implemented. If they had been, we would not have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Priorities for Garda Inspectorate: Discussion (19 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: Is bringing in a team to change the culture something that has worked previously? Have the witnesses seen it work where a team was brought in to work with the leadership in an organisation? Perhaps, the team has put a small bit of pressure on the leadership to try to get the implementation done. Do the witnesses have any experience of that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Priorities for Garda Inspectorate: Discussion (19 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: If there was new leadership, would that make a huge difference? If somebody came in and really wanted to make that change, would it then be implemented?

Seanad: UK Referendum on EU Membership: Statements (13 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: I welcome the Minister. This subject is very close to my heart as I have many family members who live in the North. We were all greatly surprised and shocked by the result of the Brexit referendum and are still coming to terms with the possible implications of this decision. The setting up of a hard border between the North and South would be a huge setback to the progress made since 1998....

Seanad: UK Referendum on EU Membership: Statements (13 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: Another concern I have is over the status of Irish people living in the United Kingdom after Brexit. According to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the right of Irish people to live and work in Britain should not be affected by Brexit. He told a House of Lords select committee that the British Government stood fully behind its commitments under the Good Friday Agreement,...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Frances Black: With regard to the budget, I wish to highlight the homelessness issue. Homelessness is one of the greatest scandals of our time.The fact that children are forced to grow up in hotel rooms is totally unacceptable. The imposition of rent controls should be a priority. I do not agree with the granting of tax relief to landlords who are driving rents up to unsustainable levels. The housing...