Results 421-440 of 4,571 for speaker:Trevor Sargent

Rural Environment Protection Scheme. (8 Apr 2008)

Trevor Sargent: I want to make sure it is clear to the Deputy that Teagasc is getting additional resources to help in every way. We cannot move back the date of 15 May but we can do everything possible to help people comply.

Fertiliser Costs. (8 Apr 2008)

Trevor Sargent: Changes in fertiliser costs, in common with all elements of intermediate consumption for farmers, are principally a function of market forces, in this instance primarily at international level. The main reason for the sharp increase in fertiliser prices this year is the fact that world demand far outstrips supply. Increased world demand is such that fertiliser plants do not have the...

Fertiliser Costs. (8 Apr 2008)

Trevor Sargent: There is more but I cannot read it all now.

Fertiliser Costs. (8 Apr 2008)

Trevor Sargent: The Leas-Cheann Comhairle normally states that the balance of the reply will appear in the Official Report.

Fertiliser Costs. (8 Apr 2008)

Trevor Sargent: That is what I was waiting to hear.

Fertiliser Costs. (8 Apr 2008)

Trevor Sargent: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Fertiliser Costs. (8 Apr 2008)

Trevor Sargent: I have asked that question myself and the answer I have been given by people who are in the business of studying these matters scientifically is that the application of slurry outside the allowed times would not be beneficial in that it would be going onto ground which essentially is not for growing and would not improve the growth of crops. There is a need to examine the science behind it...

Fertiliser Costs. (8 Apr 2008)

Trevor Sargent: This question will require a far broader view than simply asking what Ireland can do. Ireland still had to import gas and fossil fuels to operate IFI, so there was no great merit in simply locking ourselves into that dependency. We need to look at global food production, which will require further evaluation of other methods. I am currently reading a lot of material on climate change,...

Fertiliser Costs. (8 Apr 2008)

Trevor Sargent: I am quite happy to talk about traditional agriculture but organic agriculture as it is now practised takes on board traditional agriculture with the research that is being carried out for the efficient use of resources. The use of seaweed in my constituency of Dublin North is the bedrock of the horticultural industry there, so to that extent I am very familiar with the potential of maritime...

Fertiliser Costs. (8 Apr 2008)

Trevor Sargent: I am not going to make any puns about the greens. As regards Deputy Sherlock's point, there are standards for imported fertilisers. The manufacturers are required to indicate on the bag the actual components. If the Deputy has any evidence of sharp practice or shortcuts in this regard, he should bring it to my attention. I am sure Teagasc would be keen to hear more about that.

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——

Potato Sector. (21 Feb 2008)

Trevor Sargent: I can give the Deputy the figures but it would take too long. I refer to €2.65 million granted to 80 applicants under the national development programme. I appreciate that Deputy Sherlock is focusing on the fact that smaller growers — it is also, unfortunately, the case with regard to some larger growers — are also finding it difficult to trade. The reason is that the return for the...

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.