Councillors jet off to ‘broaden horizons’
When asked about the €32,000 cost to the taxpayer, Fine Gael’s Cllr Mary Harty said: “I suppose any quality project costs money in these days. You know the way these things are.”
Others spoke of “broadening horizons” and looking “beyond the half door.”
The delegation includes, Cllr Michael Collins, FF, Cllr Kevin Sheehan, FF, Cllr John Gallahue, FF, Cllr Mary Harty, FG, Cllr Mary Jackman, FG, Cllr Brigid Teefy, PD, county manager Ned Gleeson and head of planning, Jimmy Feane.
They will visit the Jia-Ding District Congress in Shanghai.
The council said the purpose of the trip was to strengthen business and cultural links with Shanghai.
Mr Harty said of the visit: “We are elected to represent Co Limerick at every level and this is one of the levels we have been chosen to do so. We have been chosen by our parties and it has been sanctioned by the council. It is a rare opportunity that councillors get and we are very privileged to be able to avail of that opportunity.”
As he prepared to board the connecting flight to London, county manager Ned Gleeson said the council had the remit of promoting the industrial and cultural development of Co Limerick.
“We are going out there to the biggest economy in the world to promote Limerick and promote it on the basis of industry and cultural links,” he said.
Asked if industrial promotion abroad was the remit of the IDA, Mr Gleeson said: “It is the job of Limerick County Council also, because Limerick County Council makes the development plans. We are in charge of providing the infra-structure, providing all the services which promote major industry. When major industry comes to Limerick their first port of call is Limerick County Council.”
Brigid Teefy said they would further establish links already there. “You broaden the horizons,” she said.
She said she was not surprised at public astonishment at the decision to send an eight-member delegation to China.
“I suppose public representatives always get the flak anyway,” she said.
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