Wexford councillors urged to forego annual Christmas dinner – ‘If we could skip this lavish meal we could donate €2,000 to charity’

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

With Christmas fast approaching calls have been made for Wexford’s elected representatives to forego their annual banquet in exchange for a genuine act of kindness. Speaking at the October meeting of the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD) Councillor Aoife Rose O’Brien asked whether the Christmas meals enjoyed by councillors, staff, officials, and, on occasion, members of the media, should be jettisoned this year.

“I’m asking all councillors to carry out an act of kindness this Christmas by donating to charity the money usually spent on the annual dinner,” said the Sinn Féin councillor. “If we could skip this lavish meal for one year we could effectively donate €2000 to charity which would, in turn, provide for the community at what can be a difficult time of year.”

Agreeing with Cllr O’Brien in principle, Cllr Jim Codd reminded her that these festive events proved very beneficial for small local businesses.

“I know that Mary McGee and her staff in The Country Bistro in Taghmon very much appreciated the business the council brought to them last year, it was a tremendous boost for her and her staff,” he said, referencing the location of last year’s RMD Christmas dinner. “Rural Wexford hasn’t managed to find a way to capitalise on tourism during the peak months so this seasonal trade is hugely important.

"I do have sympathy with what you say and I would, for example, take a similar stance on councillors’ trips abroad, but I see what this custom means to local businesses and I wouldn’t be happy to deny them that extra trade.”

Cllr Lisa McDonald argued that the two ideals weren’t “mutually exclusive” and that the council could support a local charity and still bring business to a restaurant in the district this Christmas.

“I can pay for my own,” offered Cllr Codd, “I have a good appetite.”

“We could at least self-fund the meal and use the allocation to help a charity,” said Cllr O’Brien.