http://www.waterford-news.ie/news/story.asp?j=21191

Friday, March 17, 2006

New York junket defence ‘utter bull’
By Aileen Mulhall

THE County Council delegation visiting New York for the city’s St. Paddy’s Day celebrations have defended their trip as an opportunity to lobby on behalf of illegal Irish immigrants, but a city council member has declared this is “utter bull”.

City Council Workers Party member Cllr. John Halligan said yesterday it was a “load of bull” being put forward by the delegation of seven councillors that their trip would be useful in helping the thousands of illegal immigrants in legal limbo in the States for many years.

“The councillors are fooling people if they think this is anything other than a free trip. They believe we (councillors) have more influence than we actually have,” he declared during an interview on WLRfm.

The delegation led by the County Mayor Cllr. Gerard Barron (Lab) and County Manager Ray O’Dwyer left for New York yesterday (Tuesday) morning.

Others taking part in the six day trip are Cllr. Damien Geoghegan (FG), Cllr. Declan Doocey (FG), Cllr. Liam Brazil (FG), Cllr. Paddy O’Callaghan (Lab), Cllr. Pat Daly (FF) and Cllr. James Tobin (FF).

During their visit they will meet with senior IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland officials in the Big Apple.

They will also enjoy a tour of the UN headquarters and a get together with the President of the Waterford County Society at the Rockefeller Plaza.

On St Patrick’s Day, they will attend a reception hosted by the Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg at Gracie Mansion and a Governors Breakfast hosted by the Irish/American Chamber of Commerce at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel before attending Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral and taking part in the parade with the Waterford Association.