Sargent: Budget decisions ‘rushed’

GREEN minister Trevor Sargent has admitted the Government “rushed” some of its budgetary decisions, but insisted it had no other choice.

Mr Sargent, a junior minister at the Department of Agriculture, was reacting to the continuing fallout from the local elections, which saw the Greens left with three councillors – a loss of 15 seats since 2004.

He said the party’s defeated councillors had struggled to accept their hard work and achievements were “simply set aside” by voters. But the simple fact was the Greens had been punished because of their coalition with Fianna Fáil, he said.