Trump puts County Councillors off New York St. Patrick's celebrations

Donald Trump's controversial decisions on Gaza and the Middle East have prompted some members of Tipperary County Council to call for plans for the county to be represented in New York City for St. Patrick's Day to be scrapped as a statement of their objections.

Tipperary County Council CEO, Sinead Carr and Council Cathaoirleach, Declan Burgess, have been invited to represent the Premier County by marching in St. Patrick's Day celebrations in New York with the Tipperary Association - a group who bring together people of Tipperary heritage based in New York for social and sporting events.

Before accepting the invitation for the CEO and Cathaoirleach to travel, the trip requires the blessing of the majority of the 40 members of the local authority and some Councillors raised their objections before voting at their monthly meeting in Clonmel today.

First to voice concern was Nenagh based Independent, Seamie Morris, who said the Irish people and government "simply cannot tolerate" the language and behaviour used by the new United States administration in relation to the Middle East.

"They're turning Gaza into real estate", Councillor Morris told the meeting and said a decision not to accept the invitation would send a strong message.

"I'm the first to advocate for the promotion of Tipperary abroad, but I have been on trips like this in the past and there is often little or no program of work involved", he said.

"The United States administration is riding roughshod over international law. On television we saw Trump standing beside a war criminal who was grinning with happiness", Councillor Morris said, referring to a press conference broadcast from the White House during the visit of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Nethanyahu to Washington last week.

"We are serious people in this country and we need to stand up", Cllr. Morris said, reaffirming his opinion on the CEO and Cathorileach travelling to the United States next month. 

Fine Gael Councillor, Tom Acheson, strongly disagreed and said he has experience working with US based multinational companies and that promoting employment and industry are not the only reasons for such visits.

"All reasonable observers would advise us to attend and to keep all lines of communication open. We will see the Taoiseach travel to Washington to meet President Trump and that is not an easy thing to do.

"The current occupant of the White House might not be to all our liking, but it is important that Tipperary is represented", Cllr. Acheson said, pointing out the participation of Tipperary County Council in celebrating our national holiday abroad is not political.

"It is Tipperary people inviting Tipperary people over - we're not going to be meeting Donald Trump, we're meeting with Tipperary people in very turbulent times", was the opinion of Independent, Andy Moloney., which was echoed by Councillor Siobhan Ambrose (FF), who said it is "very important to keep up the links".

Sinn Féin's Councillor, David Dunne, disagreed and said it is important to "show solidarity with the people of Gaza and that we have no truck with turning Gaza into a piece of real estate".

Cllr. Dunne put forward a proposal to accept the invitation, but for the Cathoirleach to present a "strongly worded letter" on behalf of the members who wish to object - which was proposed and seconded but later withdrawn. 

Local authority CEO, Sinead Carr, told the meeting the intention of the visit is not political and instead the purpose is to improve diplomatic relations and maintain links between Tipperary and the diaspora in America of Tipperary heritage.

"The members need to understand this has never been about politics, it is about promoting Tipperary and going in that direction would be misjudged", Ms. Carr said.

Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Declan Burgess, said he is "very passionate about tourism" and that he and the CEO want to make the visit "constructive" and promised a detailed report on what they achieved when they return. 

The Cathaoirleach also stressed his personal sympathy for the people of Gaza and pointed out he has often made clear his stance on issues in the Middle East and that he is an active member of the Cashel for Palestine group who meet weekly. 

After a vote the decision to accept the invitation to send the CEO and Cathaoirleach to New York was approved by 33 votes to three.