Row over States visit

A vote was taken at this week's meeting of Tipperary County Council over whether the cathaoirleach should accept an invitation to attend the St Patrick's Day parade in New York.

Traditionally, the council sends a small delegation to the US every year to meet Tipperary people living there and take part in their parade. But Cllr Séamie Morris was of the view that to do so this year would be “sending out the wrong message”.

He called for the invitation to be declined, voicing his disapproval of any Tipperary delegation going over to “play footsie” with Donald Trump's administration. Cllr Morris spoke out against many of the new US president's policies, particularly that of “turning Gaza into real estate”, and of Mr Trump's comments about the International Court of Justice and UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) .

“We as a council should have the gumption to say we're not going over there,” Cllr Morris said. “We cannot tolerate this administration at the moment.”

He formally proposed that Cathaoirleach Cllr Declan Burgess should refrain from visiting the US and said the money saved should be given to UNWRA.

Cllr Niall Dennehy seconded the proposal, though several councillors spoke against it. Among them was Cllr John Fitzgerald, who mentioned the number of US companies based in Tipperary and providing employment here. The council needed to maintain its relationship with the US; declining to send over a delegation for St Patrick’s Day would be “ludicrous”, he opined.

Meetings Administrator Ger Walsh clarified that the invitation came from the Tipperary Association of New York. It was sent to the first citizens of Limerick and Clare as well, so that they could form a Mid-West delegation. The CEO of the council was also invited. A number of meetings were planned, including one with representatives of the IDA.

Cllr Morris agreed that recent council visits to the US had helped secure investment in Tipperary from overseas. This was a departure from the visits of years prior to that, when those who visited had “a great time” and “nothing came back from it”.

But Cllr Morris did not want the council having anything to do with an administration “riding rough-shod over international justice”. He again referred to Mr Trump’s recent comments about a “Gaza Riviera”.

“We’re going to have to get serious here,” Cllr Morris said. “We’re serious in this country. We’re serious about international justice.”

‘NOT A HOLIDAY’

Cllr Tom Acheson understood Cllr Morris’ sentiments but recommended accepting the invitation to visit New York for St Patrick’s Day. “Trump is not to the liking of most right-minded people but he is who the American people put in place and we have to keep channels open with them,” Cllr Acheson said.

Cllr Andy Moloney had been on previous council visits to the US for St Patrick’s Day. “It’s not a holiday,” he told the meeting, speaking of the itinerary that would be laid on for the delegates.

But he made the point that they would not be meeting with the Trump administration; they would be meeting “ordinary Tipperary people”. Cllr Moloney described the present time as turbulent; the need is greater now than ever to maintain ties with the US.

For Cllr Peggy Ryan, the visit was an opportunity to forge links with the diaspora. It was to be a Mid-West visit and not having Tipperary represented would be a disadvantage to the county, she said.

As a former cathaoirleach of the council, Cllr Siobhán Ambrose also spoke of the hectic schedule of meetings with business people that the trip involves. “It’s certainly not a holiday,” she agreed.

Cllr Ambrose said it saddened her to hear people speaking against the visit; they must never have had the experience themselves if they did not realise its importance, she reasoned.

‘STRONGLY-WORDED LETTER’

Cllrs David Dunne and Pat English suggested that the cathaoirleach should deliver a “strongly-worded letter” documenting the councillors’ “distaste” over Mr Trump’s policies. But CEO Sinéad Carr pointed out that the purpose of the visit is to maintain and develop relationships in the US, promoting Tipperary there and recognising those who have left this county to live new lives there.

“It has never been a political trip and should never be a political trip,” Ms Carr told the meeting. She said the council should make use of the opportunity and advised against anything that might jeopardise it.

Cllr Morris rejoined that he had represented Nenagh in the US for St Patrick’s Day before. There were many visits abroad before local representatives decided to focus on reviving the parade in Nenagh.

He welcomed the debate on the issue and appreciated his fellow councillors’ comments but said he would not withdraw his proposal to decline the invitation.

The matter was therefore put to a vote. Thirty-three councillors voted in favour of the visit with three against it.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Burgess said he is also “very supportive of the Palestinian cause” but that no meetings with political leaders are planned as part of this trip.

He said he would use the trip as productively as he could and would report back to the council about it.