Sargent receives new ministerial eco-car

Minister for Food Trevor Sargent has received the keys to his new ministerial eco-car.

The acting Green Party leader bought the Toyota Prius on eBay from party colleague Mayor of Galway Cllr Niall S Brolchain.

€7,000 from the sale will go to 15 charities in Galway selected by the mayor.

Trevor Sargent explained that the Toyota Prius has an electric and petrol engine which makes it more environmentally friendly.

"I'm not able to do the cost-benefit environmental analysis," he said.

"All I know is that this car is already on the road, it operates by electricity up to a certain speed and in city and town conditions; that reduces emissions, not just in terms of climate change, but also in terms of people's health."