Gaza crisis versus NI Children's Hospice in Belfast City Hall Christmas fundraiser debate
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice have been pitted against each other as causes for the charity box at the Christmas Tree in Belfast City Hall this year.
At a Belfast City Council committee meeting, the SDLP proposed a charity box in City Hall for suffering Palestinians, and the DUP immediately countered this with a proposal for a collection for the local charity. The problem was then solved with a successful Sinn Féin proposal to match fund the two.
At the recent meeting of the council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, SDLP Councillor Gary McKeown told the chamber: “Given the fact of the ongoing humanitarian crisis again this year in the Middle East, I want to propose that we reinstall the fundraising charity box at the Christmas Tree in the City Hall to raise funds for medical aid for Palestinians. And further that there is signage put up in City Hall to direct people to the box, just to make them aware it is there and they can contribute to it.”
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DUP Councillor Sarah Bunting said: “I have no issue putting a charity box in. But considering the conversations ongoing at committee meetings and the full council around hardship faced by people in this city, and considering the issues facing the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice, which is based in this city, we would propose any fundraising is aimed there.”
A council officer asked elected members at the committee to agree if they wanted to do the Christmas Tree box fundraiser on an annual basis, without committing to the causes until the appropriate time. Councillors agreed to this unanimously.
Alliance Councillor Sam Nelson said: “I think it is a bit unfortunate that we are here pitting two charities against each other, with a £250 pot in it. It isn’t the best way to conduct business on this committee, and will just bring about confrontation.”
SDLP Councillor Séamas de Faoite said: “I agree with that point, and I don’t think any of us wants to be in a position where people are pitching different causes against one another. The difficulty is, this is the procedure at the moment in terms of bringing forward suggestions.
“Perhaps it is something for the future to look at some kind of framework as to how we manage that.”
Sinn Féin Councillor Ronan McLaughlin proposed whatever was raised for Palestinian relief, an equivalent would be donated by the council to the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice.
Councillors unanimously agreed to the McLaughlin proposal.
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