The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, is to lead an Irish trade delegation to Japan following the cancellation of the Taoiseach's plans to go.
Ms Harney, who went to Japan yesterday directly from the United States where she was on an official visit, will be among 11 members of the Government abroad for St Patrick's Day. Nine Ministers of State, the Government Chief Whip and a former minister will also travel abroad to represent the Government.
Mr Ahern withdrew from the Japanese visit after his day of talks on Northern Ireland on Thursday forced him to postpone his departure.
Mr Ahern is to go ahead with his visit to Washington next week where he will hold his first meeting with the new US President, Mr George Bush. During the visit he will attend a lunch hosted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the annual American-Ireland Fund dinner. He will return to Ireland on March 16th.
The Taoiseach said yesterday he had "asked Ministers travelling abroad to make a special effort to promote the quality of Irish produce and in particular to stress the stringent measures we are taking to protect against any threat of foot-and-mouth disease in this country".
The Attorney General, Mr Michael McDowell, is travelling to Chicago. Ministers travelling abroad are: the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, (New York); the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, (San Francisco); the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, and the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, (both to Australia); the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern, (Argentina); the Minister for the Marine, Mr Fahey, (South Africa); the Minister for Education, Dr Woods, (Malaysia and Singapore); the Minister for Defence, Mr Michael Smith, (Lebanon/Cyprus/Czech Republic).
The Government Chief Whip, Mr Seamus Brennan, will be in Savannah, Georgia. Ministers of State travelling abroad are: Mr Robert Molloy (Philadelphia); Ms Liz O'Donnell (Boston); Mr Eamon O Cuiv (Atlanta); Ms Mary Wallace (Dallas); Mr Danny Wallace (San Antonio); Mr Tom Kitt (Seattle); Mr Eoin Ryan (New Orleans); Ms Mary Hanafin (Canada); Mr Martin Cullen (China). Mr David Andrews TD will represent the Government in Los Angeles.