Results 4,121-4,140 of 4,571 for speaker:Trevor Sargent

Seanad: Merits of Farmers' Markets: Statements (6 Dec 2007)

Trevor Sargent: Ar dtús báire, ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le gach éinne a labhair i rith na díospóireachta seo. Tá sé an-tábhachtach dom tuaraimí na Seanadóirí a chloisint. Mar is eol don Teach, beidh mé ag bualadh le bainisteóirí contae agus cathrach san athbhliain. Buailfidh mé chomh maith le cathaoirligh, cléirigh baile agus iad siúd atá i bhfeidhm ar na comhairlí baile, os...

Barron Reports: Statements (Resumed) (31 Jan 2008)

Trevor Sargent: Go raibh maith agat. Ba mhaith liom ar dtús a rá go bhfuil me ag roinnt mo chuid ama leis an Teachta Seán Ardagh. The Good Friday Agreement acknowledges that "We must never forget those who have died or have been injured, and their families". As someone who has, with my colleagues in the Green Party, consistently campaigned for truth and reconciliation, including calling for...

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Trevor Sargent: Partnership.

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Trevor Sargent: I love Tallaght too.

Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Trevor Sargent: The Deputy has a date.

Seanad: Fishing Vessels (7 Feb 2008)

Trevor Sargent: Ba mhaith liom buíochas a gabháil leis an Senadóir Twomey as an cheist seo a ardú. It is a sensitive matter and in the context of a proposed judicial review I must be careful what I say. The Minister of State with responsibility for fisheries at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Browne, has asked me to apologise that he cannot be here. He is taking a keen...

Seanad: Fishing Vessels (7 Feb 2008)

Trevor Sargent: I regret I do not have that information. I am prepared for this debate, which——

Seanad: Special Educational Needs (7 Feb 2008)

Trevor Sargent: I thank Senator Frances Fitzgerald for raising this matter. She notes correctly that, as a former school principal, I have a particular interest in autism and special education and have worked with many of the families, as she has. It sickens me to the pit of my stomach that people who face such considerable challenges must take on the onerous task of going to court. The Minister for...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs (7 Feb 2008)

Trevor Sargent: I would very much like to be able to give the guarantee requested by the Senator. On reflection, she would appreciate that I cannot pre-empt the outcome of a court case.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs (7 Feb 2008)

Trevor Sargent: We are discussing costs. As the outcome of this debate will testify, I will make the Senator's case strongly. I met the individuals concerned in Wicklow for whom it is an issue of considerable distress given the outcome and costs facing them. I will make the Senator's sentiments clear and revert to her directly. Policy decisions, which are the Government's prerogative, can sometimes be at...

Order of Business (13 Feb 2008)

Trevor Sargent: I am at the Deputy's service.

Millennium Projects. (21 Feb 2008)

Trevor Sargent: Never.

Grant Payments. (21 Feb 2008)

Trevor Sargent: The reply to this question is somewhat similar to that for Question No. 2. In the course of discussions about the payment arrangements for REPS 4, the European Commission unexpectedly raised questions in early January about the long-established practice in Ireland of paying farmers in REPS 2 and REPS 3 in full at the start of each contract year. Thereafter, it was necessary to put these...

Grant Payments. (21 Feb 2008)

Trevor Sargent: I thank Deputy Doyle for his thoughts on the scheme. They are useful in formulating the case to be made, but we are in ongoing discussions with the Commission. As he mentioned, they are the people we are focusing on helping. The Commission has put it to us that it needs to reconcile the area issue, particularly the REPS payment area that is taken into account and the integrated...

Grant Payments. (21 Feb 2008)

Trevor Sargent: I thought TDs were paid quite well.

Grant Payments. (21 Feb 2008)

Trevor Sargent: I will not get into that debate.

Grant Payments. (21 Feb 2008)

Trevor Sargent: It was as much of a shock to us as to anybody else to learn that a problem was envisaged in the way we were proposing to make payments under REPS 4. We had to take quick action to ensure we did not alienate the people with whom we are now seeking agreement. We have always been on the right side of the law in this regard and we want to remain there. We wanted to ensure that farmers did not...

Grant Payments. (21 Feb 2008)

Trevor Sargent: ——whether it be sleep or anything else under the scheme in the final analysis. That is the reason we had to had to act quickly. Hopefully the matter can be successfully concluded but the negotiations are still ongoing.

Potato Sector. (21 Feb 2008)

Trevor Sargent: I will do my best but I will be reading very fast. Potato production in Ireland is mainly focused on the fresh ware market serving domestic consumption. Investment in storage facilities has resulted in the availability of quality ware potatoes for almost the entire year. At retail level, there have also been major changes over the past decade with the multiples exacting major influence on...

Potato Sector. (21 Feb 2008)

Trevor Sargent: Deputy Sheehan needs to aim his attention wider than the Department if he is looking to solve the problem. We have been grant aiding——