Government Patrick's Day travel plans announced
The Government's travel schedule for St Patrick's Day has been unveiled.
14 of the 15 cabinet ministers will be travelling abroad on trade missions, taking in 15 countries on five continents.
The Taoiseach and three other ministers will be travelling to the United States, with others going to Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, China and Brazil.
All 15 junior ministers also be involved in international travel, with Michael Noonan the only minister staying behind.
Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan denies that the worldwide travel programme is a waste of money.
"These are very, very good value," he said. "Last year … as an immediate consequence of our ministerial visits, €5m was gained at a cost of €300,000 for the entire event.
"I'm quite satisfied that this is money really, really well spent," he said.
Enda Kenny - USA (details tbc)
Joan Burton - USA (Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh)
Charlie Flanagan - Canada and USA (NYC)
Brendan Howlin - South Korea and Japan
Richard Bruton - Paris
Heather Humphreys - London
Paschal Donohoe - USA (San Fran, Silicon Valley, San Jose)
Alex White - New Zealand
Alan Kelly - China
Jan O'Sullivan - Brazil
Simon Coveney - Italy
Frances Fitzgerald - Indonesia, Singapore
James Reilly - UAE, India
Leo Varadkar - Mexico
Sean Sherlock - Ethiopia
Paul Keohe - USA (Houston and Savannah)
Ged Nash - Sweden
Jimmy Deenihan - USA (Chicago, Milwaukee)
Michael Ring - USA (Phoenix, LA)
Tom Hayes - Australia
Kathleen Lynch - Russia
Joe McHugh - UK (Scotland)
Kevin Humnphreys - Croatia, Switzerland
Paudie Coffey - USA (St Louis, Indianapolis)
Simon Harris - Germany
Dara Murphy - Belgium
Aodhan O Riordain - Hungary
Ann Phelan - The Netherlands
Damien English - Denmark, Slovakia
