Ministers’ St Patrick’s Day travel plans unveiled

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Joan Burton will both travel to the United States as part of the annual St Patrick’s ministerial trade missions.

Twenty seven other senior and junior ministers will travel abroad over St Patrick’s week as part of yearly exodus.

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan will remain at home, as will Attorney General Máire Whelan. Mr Kenny will travel to Washington to meet President Barack Obama, and it is also understood the Taoiseach will visit a number of other American cities, although the final details have yet to be announced.

Ms Burton will visit Boston, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia while four junior ministers - Paul Kehoe, Jimmy Deenihan, Michael Ring and Paudie Coffey - will also travel to the United States.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan’s itinerary combines a visit to New York City with engagements in Canada.

Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton travels to Paris, Minister for Health Leo Varadkar to Mexico and Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly to China.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan said the value of St. Patrick’s Day to the promotion of Ireland overseas “cannot be overestimated”.

“The St Patrick’s Day period is perhaps the best showcase of ‘Team Ireland’ in operation abroad.”

He added: “This year’s schedule of travel reflects the importance of both new and established markets, and reflects also the recent expansion of the Embassy network, Diaspora hubs, and Ireland’s work in Development Cooperation.”

Here is the list:

Taoiseach Enda Kenny - USA

Tánaiste Joan Burton - USA (Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia)

Minister for Foreign Affairs Charles Flanagan - Canada, USA (NYC)

Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin - South Korea, Japan

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton - France (Paris)

Minister for Arts Heather Humphreys - UK (London)

Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe - USA (San Francisco, Silicon Valley, San José)

Minister for Communications Alex White - New Zealand

Minister for Environment Alan Kelly - China

Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan - Brazil

Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney - Italy

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald - Indonesia, Singapore

Minister for Children James Reilly - UAE, India

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar - Mexico

Minister of State (MoS) Seán Sherlock - Ethiopia

MoS Paul Kehoe - USA (Houston, Savannah)

MoS Ged Nash - Sweden

MoS Jimmy Deenihan - USA (Chicago, Milwaukee)

MoS Michael Ring - USA (Phoenix, Los Angeles)

MoS Tom Hayes - Australia

MoS Kathleen Lynch - Russia

MoS Joe McHugh - UK (Scotland)

MoS Kevin Humphreys - Croatia, Switzerland

Mos Paudie Coffey - USA (St. Louis, Indianapolis)

MoS Simon Harris - Germany

MoS Dara Murphy - Belgium

MoS Aodhán Ó Ríordáin - Hungary

MoS Ann Phelan - The Netherlands

MoS Damien English - Denmark, Slovakia