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- Balbriggan Viaduct Repairs

Published 2 September, 2008 Balbriggan , Farmers markets Closed
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2 September 2008

MINISTER SARGENT WELCOMES STATEMENT FROM IARNRÓD ÉIREANN ON THE VIADUCT IN BALBRIGGAN

The Minister for Food and Horticulture and local Green Party T.D. Trevor Sargent has welcomed the recent statement from Iarnród Éireann regarding the completion of ongoing works on the viaduct at Balbriggan, following his representations.

According to an engineer’s report, repair work on 10 of the 11 arches is complete. This entailed strengthening the cast-iron fascia on each side following storm damage last May.

The remaining arch requires the use of a crane and cannot be carried out with trains running. It is planned to complete this work early in the morning on Sunday 21st September.

Minister Sargent said, ‘I’m looking forward to the completion of these works as soon as possible to ensure the general safety of commuters and public alike. Also, the car park in the area of the viaduct would be an ideal location for a proposed Farmers’ Market which I am endeavouring to develop with Green Party Town Councillor Stephen Kilgallon in cooperation with Fingal County Council.’

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- Minister at Carlow Farmers Market

Published 25 August, 2008 Farmers markets Closed
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With Mary White, TD, Deputy Leader Green Party in Carlow town celebrating the 4th anniversary of the Carlow Farmers Market . Image:CFinn

23 August 2008

Mniister Trevor Sargent TD, seen here with Mary White TD, Green Party Deputy Leader, was on hand to celebrate  the 4th anniversary of the Farmers Market in Carlow on Saturday.

Speaking at the opening, he said:

“Farmers Markets have become more popular as consumers are demanding local produce with issues such as traceability, provenance and food safety becoming more important. Some come for the local market experience while for others the environment, food miles and carbon footprints are of concern. Markets help to re-connect consumers with local food producers and offer small producers a platform to test out their products, to innovate and better understand consumer demand. In a very direct way markets can also keep us in touch with the seasonality of nature and the taste of fresh local food.

The experience to date of farmers’ markets and farm shops suggests that they can provide wide-ranging and long-term benefits, both locally and regionally which can be measured socially, environmentally and economically. Benefits include access to in-season quality fresh food, more money circulating in local economies, increased employment regionally, the preservation and development of regional specialties and an enhanced level of choice for consumers as well as environmental benefits.

In addition, well-organised and consistent quality markets can become a very valuable tourist attraction, bringing more foot flow into towns to the benefit of all retailers. Recent research has shown that €10 spent at a farmers’ market will result in a net income of €24 for the community. It has also been estimated that trade for other businesses increases, by up to 30% when a market is run in a town.”

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- Sargent opens Sonairte Farmers’ Market in Laytown

Published 31 March, 2008 Farmers markets Closed
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31 March 2008

Mr Trevor Sargent T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, performed the official opening of the Sonairte Farmers’ Market in Laytown, Co. Meath.

The market is operated by Sonairte, an organisation established in the late 1980′s by members of the local community to promote environmental awareness and education.

Speaking at the opening event Minister Sargent highlighted the important role farmers’ markets can play within communities saying “experience to date of farmers’ markets suggests that they can provide wide-ranging and long-term benefits, both locally and regionally, which can be measured socially, environmentally and economically”.

The Minister pointed out that well organised markets of a consistently high quality can become a very valuable tourist attraction, bringing more foot flow into towns to the benefit of all retailers and that “recent research has shown that €10 spent at a farmers’ market will result in a net income of €24 for the community. It has also been estimated that trade for other businesses increases, by up to 30% when a market is run in a town”.

Farmers’ markets provide customers with an alternative shopping experience, with access to fresh in season produce direct from the producer and for the producers they provide a great opportunity for market research and the testing of new products.
Read the Minister’s Speech:

 

 

- Minister Sargent meets with local authorities on developing farmers’ markets

Published 16 January, 2008 Farmers markets Closed

16 January 2008

 

The Minister for Food and Horticulture, Mr Trevor Sargent T.D., at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, today met with key representatives – Mayors, Local Authority Managers, Cathaoirligh, and Town Clerks – from local authorities for a dialogue on direct routes to market for local food with a particular focus on farmers’ markets.

 

“I am aiming to promote a common approach among local authorities in dealing with farmers markets. A joined up approach across departments and agencies and dialogue and co-operation with local authority policy makers will strengthen the growth, viability and prosperity of the farmers’ market system in Ireland”.

 

Minister Sargent said that experience of farmers’ markets and farm shops suggests that they can provide wide-ranging benefits, both locally and regionally which can be measured socially, environmentally and economically.  These include access to affordable in-season quality fresh food (organic and non-organic), more money circulating in local economies, the preservation and development of regional specialties, more choice for consumers and opportunities for producers as well as environmental benefits.  Well-organised and consistent quality markets can, in addition, become a valuable tourist attraction, increasing footfall in towns to the benefit of all retailers.

 

In terms of direct economic benefit the Minister stated that recent research has shown that every €10 spent at a farmers’ market results in a net income of €24 for the local community.  “There is a spin-off for the local community and local retailers as a result of money being spent at farmers’ markets.  It has been estimated that the trade for other businesses increases by up to 30% when a farmers’ market is run in a town”, the Minister said.

 

Officials at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food recently conducted a survey into all existing markets and the key findings were presented for the first time at the event.  This information will assist in formulating Government policy at both local and national level.

 

 

Read the Minister’s address here.

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- Opening of Ashbourne Farmers Market

Published 15 September, 2007 Farmers markets Closed

15 September 2007

Address at the Official Opening of Ashbourne Farmers Market, Ashbourne, Co. Meath

Read Minister Sargent’s address here.

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