Sargent pays tribute to Ervine

Green Party Leader Trevor Sargent TD has paid tribute to David Erivne, who died in Belfast today.

Green Party Leader Trevor Sargent TD has paid tribute to David Ervine, who died in Belfast today.

"I would like to extend my sympathies to Mr Ervine's family," said the Green Party Leader. "My thoughts and prayers are with them after his untimely death."

"I met Mr Ervine in the course of his work on the peace process. He was an erudite and refreshingly straight-talking public representative.

"He did not speak unless he had something substantive to say. He was also a very brave politician who worked hard to build bridges to a lasting peace.

"His death leaves a major vacuum in terms of the quality of political representatives in Northern Ireland. I hope that the legacy of Mr Ervine's bravery will be taken up by others after him."