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

School Transport. (20 Oct 2009)

Trevor Sargent: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an ábhar seo a ardú. I am responding on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for lifelong learning, Deputy Haughey. I am pleased to have an opportunity to clarify the general position regarding the provision of school transport under the Department of Education and Science's post-primary school transport scheme. Under the...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (20 Oct 2009)

Trevor Sargent: At present EU food labelling legislation is harmonised by Council Directive 2000/13/EC, transposed in 2002, with several amendments since. In January 2008, the European Commission presented its proposals on updating and harmonising this legislation. The proposal is still under discussion. This proposal consolidated existing legislation in the area of food labelling and introduced new...

Health Services. (20 Oct 2009)

Trevor Sargent: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue as it affords me an opportunity to reaffirm the Government's commitment to developing community-based services at local level. The Health Act 2004 provides the Health Service Executive with responsibility for the management and delivery...

Grant Payments. (20 Oct 2009)

Trevor Sargent: Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta Timmy Dooley as an ceist thábhachtach seo a ardú i mo Roinn. The single farm payment, under which €1.25 billion is paid annually to Irish farmers, is an extremely important scheme not just to the agricultural industry, but to the rural economy as a whole. I am very pleased to confirm that almost €820 million was paid out to over...

Fishing Vessels. (15 Oct 2009)

Trevor Sargent: It was not my question.

Grocery Industry. (15 Oct 2009)

Trevor Sargent: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment consulted closely with my Department in preparing the consultation paper for the public consultation process, which was launched last August. Her Department is currently assessing some 28 submissions received from a range of interests. It is my intention to work in close consultation with the Tánaiste in developing a code on the lines of...

Grocery Industry. (15 Oct 2009)

Trevor Sargent: No.

Grocery Industry. (15 Oct 2009)

Trevor Sargent: I appreciate the contributions of Deputy Doyle and his party to the ongoing debate. Like him, I would like to act on this matter quickly. Likewise, the Tánaiste has stated that she would put something in place within 24 hours if she could. However, the reality is that there is a process-----

Grocery Industry. (15 Oct 2009)

Trevor Sargent: I will try not to be drawn. To be carried through effectively and successfully, the process must take into account the fact that the Tánaiste's Department is assessing 27 submissions. We are actively engaging with her Department, given the critical nature of what is at stake for the agrifood sector. It is not true to say that the code has been predetermined to be voluntary. It is too...

Grocery Industry. (15 Oct 2009)

Trevor Sargent: As this is a priority question, I must turn a deaf ear to Deputy Sherlock at the moment, but I will talk with him afterwards.

Grocery Industry. (15 Oct 2009)

Trevor Sargent: I will answer the question in as straightforward a manner as I can. Commissioner Fischer Boel's opinion and work on the roadmap in respect of the communication on food prices will be implemented by the end of 2009. While having it sooner would be great, Deputy Doyle will understand the importance of the European market for us. While we need to proceed quickly, we cannot do so in isolation...

Written Answers — Health Service Suppliers: Health Service Suppliers (15 Oct 2009)

Trevor Sargent: The information requested is being provided by the Health Service Executive and will be forwarded to the Deputy directly.

Bee Mortality Rate. (14 Oct 2009)

Trevor Sargent: Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Cheann Comhairle as an ceist seo a ligint anocht. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta Mary White as an ceist thábhactach a ordú chomh maith. My Department offers support to beekeepers through a number of initiatives. We administer the national apiculture research programme 2007-10, which provides some €267,000 in funding over...

Site Acquisitions. (14 Oct 2009)

Trevor Sargent: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Mattie McGrath as ucht an cheist seo a ardú agus mo leithscéal leis as ucht go bhfuil mo dhroim á thaispeáint dó. I am replying to this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, who regrets that he cannot be present. I thank the Deputy for raising it because it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the...

Written Answers — Hospital Supplies: Hospital Supplies (14 Oct 2009)

Trevor Sargent: The information requested is being provided by the Health Service Executive and will be forwarded to the Deputy directly.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Oct 2009)

Trevor Sargent: Ba mhaith liom mo chuid ama a roinnt leis an Teachta Uí Ruairc.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Oct 2009)

Trevor Sargent: Tá díospóireacht thar a bheith tábhachtach ar siúl anseo. Nuair a foilsíodh an dréacht den reachtaíocht seo ar 30 Iúil i mbliana, cuireadh tús leis an díospóireacht. B'shin an cuspóir a bhí ag an Aire Airgeadais ag an am. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeadh díospóireacht chuimsitheach againn. In the time during which the debate has been held we have all been reminded that we are...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Oct 2009)

Trevor Sargent: When Anglo Irish Bank was nationalised, it effectively became part of the Government of Ireland and its limit was incorporated into the Irish limit of €16 million, reducing the pool to Ireland by €64 million. Nationalisation of AIB and Bank of Ireland would have the effect of immediately reducing it by a further 32% at least as, he believes, that international investors would take...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (13 Oct 2009)

Trevor Sargent: I am aware of the health issues relating to the use of hydrogenated vegetable oils. The primary health concern is the trans fatty acid content which has a negative impact on coronary heart disease. I am also aware that certain jurisdictions have implemented restrictions on the use of trans fatty acids. The matter came up for discussion during EU deliberations on an amendment to a draft...

Food Industry. (7 Oct 2009)

Trevor Sargent: I thank Deputy Tom Hayes for raising this important issue. As a representative of a farming community, I assure the Deputy that my visits to farms and farmers around the country have left me in no doubt about the level of hardship and despair in the sector. The problem has not been helped by the weather in the past couple of years. There is no doubt farmers are facing difficulties at this...