Fine Gael will seek to overturn Dublin Lord Mayor's decision to get rid of the live crib outside the Mansion House this Christmas season.

Dublin City Councillor James Geoghegan hopes to speak with the Lord Mayor ahead of Monday night’s meeting where an emergency motion on the live crib will be considered.

The live animal crib has been a Christmas staple for the past 27 years and its cancellation was met with huge disappointment by regular visitors to the annual showpiece.

“We hope that having listened to the weight of public opinion, including from the Dublin Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) and Fionn Sherlock, the Enniskerry farmer, who supplies the animals every year, that the Lord Mayor can see sense on this decision", he said.

“At the very least, the general public are entitled to know the actual reasons for why school children will not get the opportunity to see live animals like they have every other year."

Animal welfare

“The Lord Mayor has never stated that animal welfare is the motivation for her decision and yet other councillors from the Green Party are saying that is exactly why the ban has been put in place", said Cllr Geoghegan.

He also accused the Green Party of not acting in Dublin's interest and "listening only to those who are a fringe-element of this debate", such as the National Animal Rights Association.

Fine Gael says it has reached out to a number of former Lord Mayors and have "been assured of their support".

“I think this reflects the broadly held view by all elected members that cancelling the live-crib was a huge mistake", Cllr Geoghegan said.

He added that he hopes the Lord Mayor and the public in support of the live crib can come to a compromise.