US parade invitation for city chiefs

WATERFORD’S mayor and his deputy could be US-bound for St Patrick’s Day after all, despite earlier claims from city hall that nobody was venturing abroad this year.

Mayor Hilary Quinlan and his deputy, Cllr Pat Hayes, have been invited to New York’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations. Both have received invitations to travel in conjunction with a local multinational firm which has its hub in the US.

Director of Corporate Affairs at City Hall Paddy Power said the invitation was in conjunction with Bausch & Lomb, who have a premises in Rochester and are celebrating 25 years in business this year.

“The invitation was extended but nothing has been decided yet. We can’t even say whether partners will be accompanying them, but it is normal for that to happen on a trip like this,” he said.

There was fury among many ratepayers several weeks ago when it emerged that, as with last year, seven Waterford county councillors and county manager Ray O’Dwyer are to travel to New York for March 17.

That decision has been branded “insensitive” by Sinn Féin councillor Brendan Mansfield who said the council should divert the thousands of euro to be spent on this “junket” to more pressing matters.

“At a time when we have people on low incomes in the county in a panic as to how they will pay the new flat fee refuse charge of between €130 and €150, spending money flying councillors to New York is insensitive to say the least.”