Councillor defends trip to Abu Dhabi

By WicklowNews.net,

By Nevan Riley

Fine Gael Councillor Grainne McLoughlin came under fire yesterday after it was revealed she is attending an awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi, at the taxpayers' expense.

Councillor McLoughlin, who is a member of Greystones Town Council, is part of a Wicklow delegation that made it to the finals of the World’s Most Livable Community (LivCom) Awards, which will be held this November.

Fianna Fail’s Pat Casey, fellow Fine Gael Councillor George Jones, and County Manager Eddie Sheehy are set to join McLoughlin on the trip.

The jaunt has been heavily criticised by Greystones Councillor James O’Sullivan who described it as a needless waste of Council funds, especially at a time when cuts of more than €1mn are being imposed for non-collection of the household tax.

Councillor McLoughlin is quoted as saying she makes “no apologies for asking for the support of Wicklow County Council”, in what she described as “one of the most important events for Wicklow this year.”

Greystones won the gold medal for towns with a population fewer than 20,000 people at the 2008 LivCom Awards held in China.

Responses to Councillor defends trip to Abu Dhabi
Cathal says...
September 24, 2012 at 13:10
The most important thing to happen to Wicklow this year was Katie Taylor. It just might bring some much needed tourism too. This junket is the single biggest disgrace in Wicklow this year. The fact that this woman doesnt even see the shame is astounding.
john says...
September 26, 2012 at 06:35
i wonder how much she earned last year from the council,was she living on the dole,if she earned more than 20000 euro i think she should pay for the trip if she thinks it is so important. three councillors have to go to abu dhabi and the county manager has to go to mind them,. i wonder are they going to stay in a local bed and breakfast, or would pat casey know a local hotel owner and they could all bunk up in the one room to save us some money, junket by another name , SHAME ON THEM. COUNCILLOR MC LOUGHLIN answer the following questions please if you dare......... why does itake three councillors to go .? who picked these councillors to represent us why does the county manager need to go ? why have they to go at all why not spend the money locally? how much is it costing ?
Name
Email (not shown)
Comments will be displayed once they are approved.













Enter Email









Close