Results 81-100 of 4,571 for speaker:Trevor Sargent

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Trevor Sargent: Is that the nightclub in Castlebar?

Seanad: Farming and Agrifood Sector: Statements (9 Dec 2009)

Trevor Sargent: We do not want climate change, either.

Seanad: Farming and Agrifood Sector: Statements (9 Dec 2009)

Trevor Sargent: It has not gone away.

Seanad: Farming and Agrifood Sector: Statements (9 Dec 2009)

Trevor Sargent: Perhaps the Senator will pass that on to the IFA.

Seanad: Farming and Agrifood Sector: Statements (9 Dec 2009)

Trevor Sargent: Go raibh maith agat as seans a thabhairt dom labhairt ar chúrsaí talmhaíochta agus bia sa Seanad. This debate is particularly timely and an opportunity for the House to focus on the undoubted potential of the agrifood sector to contribute significantly to the recovery of the economy. First, however, I express my sympathy to all those who have been so badly affected by flooding in recent...

Seanad: Farming and Agrifood Sector: Statements (9 Dec 2009)

Trevor Sargent: We will be spending even more next year on REPS.

Seanad: Farming and Agrifood Sector: Statements (9 Dec 2009)

Trevor Sargent: We will know after 15 December.

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (8 Dec 2009)

Trevor Sargent: Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a gabháil leis an Teachta as an deis an scéal seo a shoiléiriú. My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, cannot be present and he asked me to take this matter on his behalf. The Milltown and Claregalway sewerage schemes are both included for funding in the Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. When...

Flood Relief. (8 Dec 2009)

Trevor Sargent: The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, has asked local authorities, including Cork City Council, for reports on the effects of the recent flooding in their areas and an assessment of the measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of such flooding in the future. The Deputy will appreciate that the Minister does not have responsibility for the...

Malting Barley Industry. (8 Dec 2009)

Trevor Sargent: Gabhaim buíochas don Teachta as an cheist seo a ardú. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has a long association with the malting barley industry in Ireland which dates back to the beginning of the 1900s, with the introduction of a Guinness-initiated programme of breeding and trialling to improve the varieties of malting barley available to Irish growers. This association was...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Second Stage (2 Dec 2009)

Trevor Sargent: Fine Gael was one of the worst.

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (2 Dec 2009)

Trevor Sargent: The Food Safety Authority of Ireland published the results of its survey on food labelling on the 1st December 2009. This survey will further inform Ireland's position on the Commission's proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the provision of food information to consumers. The Commission's proposal was issued in January 2008 . Since then a number of...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (1 Dec 2009)

Trevor Sargent: Responsibility for the enforcement of labelling legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and its official agents, which include the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Local Authorities. 44,000 HSE inspections are planned for 2009. Inspection and food surveillance reports are submitted to the FSAI every six...

Food Safety. (26 Nov 2009)

Trevor Sargent: I share the annoyance of Deputy Doyle in that I had hoped these tests would have been carried out more quickly. However, I am not a microbiologist and I do not know if the Deputy is one. We are taking the best advice available to us from the Irish Equine Centre. It has been contracted by the Department because it has the capability to carry out the tests to a standard that would give us...

Food Safety. (26 Nov 2009)

Trevor Sargent: What the Deputy has said is so significant that I suggest he table a separate question on it. In the meantime, I will examine the matter. The Deputy has asked a question that warrants a specific separate answer. It is a question that needs a comprehensive answer but I cannot give him such an answer now.

Food Safety. (26 Nov 2009)

Trevor Sargent: I do not have that information, but I hope they will be. The issue warrants being made public information.

Food Safety. (26 Nov 2009)

Trevor Sargent: I agree with the Deputy on that, but I have to take advice on that based on laboratory findings and the legislation in place. I expect that in terms of public health, it is a matter of public interest and people should have the information. I look forward to considering the information as soon as possible.

Organic Farming. (26 Nov 2009)

Trevor Sargent: The decision of whether to convert from conventional to organic dairy farming is a matter of decision for each dairy farmer, based on their circumstances and preferences. While there had been an increased interest in organic production early in this decade, the exceptionally high prices for conventional manufacturing milk in 2007 and early 2008 probably dampened this interest. Other reasons...

Organic Farming. (26 Nov 2009)

Trevor Sargent: I thank the Deputy for her question and her ongoing interest. The cost of conventional milk production is affected by the cost of inputs and the return, which has been rather disappointing in the recent past. I take this opportunity to urge farmers to consider the overall picture in terms of the cost of inputs and the return. They may be surprised to learn the return on the organic option...

Organic Farming. (26 Nov 2009)

Trevor Sargent: There may be a misunderstanding on the part of the Deputy. The price referred to is the price received by the farmer from the creamery. At present there are two creameries-----