Exodus of Ministers for St Patrick’s Day hits pre-troika levels

The programme for the annual exodus of Government Ministers for St Patrick’s Day has as many long-haul destinations this year as during the years leading up to the troika bailout programme in 2010.

The programme announced this morning includes 10 visits to destinations in North America and Mexico and a further six visits by Ministers and Ministers of State to the Middle East, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand.

The North American visits include cities in the US and Canada. Taoiseach Enda Kenny will visit three US cities –Washington DC, New York and Boston – during his visit there.

Minister for Tourism and Transport Leo Varadkar has said he will not boycott the all-male St Patrick's Dinner of the Hibernian Society in Savannah if he is invited to attend.

In 2011, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore refused to attend the event because it does not allow women to attend.

No boycott
Mr Varadkar, however, said that while he disagreed strongly with any event that excludes any gender, he would not boycott the occasion, after both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste said the Government should be represented at all major events on the day in the US.

“The programme is not finalised yet and I have not received any specific invitations. I have never attended any event that was not open to both genders in the past and I think the whole idea of ‘men only dinners’ and ‘ladies only lunches’ belongs to a different age.

“My own view of Irishness in the modern world is that it should be inclusive. But I do agree with the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste that we should be represented at all major St Patrick’s Day events and for that reason I will not boycott it if invited.

One of largest
"The Savannah St Patrick's Day Parade is one of the largest in the US, and if I am invited to attend the dinner I will certainly make my views known," he said.

It follows comments from Mr Kenny and Mr Gilmore that Ireland should still be represented at the St Patrick's Day march in New York, notwithstanding that gay groups are not allowed to be officially represented.

Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton, who will be in New York for the day, said she would not participate in the march for that reason.

In contrast, as in other years, only two visits have been scheduled to Britain, Ireland's closest neighbour and where most Irish emigrants live.

UK visits
They are the planned visit of Pat Rabbitte to Birmingham and London and that of Minister of State Jan O'Sullivan to Scotland.

The senior Minister who will not be travelling is Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn, who will remain in Dublin for the national holiday.

Mr Quinn will be temporarily in charge of the Government while his ministerial colleagues are abroad.