Belfast City Council has decided not to send an elected representative to the annual St Pats for All parade in New York City. The decision was made at a meeting of the council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

The parade, held on March 17, was founded in 2000 by Irish LGBTQ+ activists and supporters as an alternative to the Fifth Avenue parade, which had banned LGBTQ+ groups from marching openly. Its motto is a line from the 1916 Easter Proclamation: "Cherishing all the children of the nation equally."

The event attracts over 3,500 participants and around 28,000 spectators, with past speakers including former New York City councillors Christine Quinn and Corey Johnson, former New York Irish Consul General Helena Nolan, New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. This year's theme is "We All Belong," and former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is set to serve as grand marshal.

Had a representative attended, the trip would have cost the council £1,500. The invitation was extended to Lord Mayor Róis-Máire Donnelly, who had already said she could not attend, but could have been taken up by the deputy lord mayor, high sheriff, or committee chairs.

At the committee meeting, DUP councillor Sarah Bunting questioned the benefit of the visit. Council chief executive John Walsh said it was up to members to judge the benefits, noting that relationships are sometimes important. Alliance councillor Michael Long said the cost was not a lot of money.

Sinn Féin councillor Ryan Murphy said the council is always trying to assess what the city gains from such trips. He acknowledged that former lord mayor Micky Murray's attendance in 2024 was beneficial but said he was not convinced the council needed to go this year. Murphy added that interested councillors could attend at their own expense.

The committee agreed not to send a council representative this year.