Ministers set for St Patrick's Day travels

Government ministers will travel to the US, Britain, Canada, Mexico, Norway, Australia, New Zealand and Africa as part of celebrations worldwide for St Patrick's Day.

Many, however, will be back home by March 17th itself and a number will not be travelling overseas at all, according to information released by ministers in a series of answers to written Dáil questions.

Arrangements have not been completed but the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, is expected to travel to Chicago, Washington DC, and Boston, starting on March 11th. He will attend the American Ireland Fund dinner, where he will be the recipient of this year's peace award.

Mr Ahern will travel to Barcelona on March 14th for the European Council meeting. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, will also be in Barcelona but has no St Patrick's Day-related engagements abroad. The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, has no plans to travel while the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, will attend St Patrick's Day parades in Moate and Athlone, Co Westmeath. The Minister for Arts and Heritage, Ms de Valera, will attend celebrations in Co Clare.

The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, will travel to Glasgow but will return on the morning of March 17th. Birmingham is the destination of the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, who will attend a banquet and parade. The Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, will be in Manchester on March 15th and 16th.

The Minister for Tourism, Dr McDaid, will visit Toronto.

The "far-flung" travellers include the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, who will visit Irish troops in Eritrea between March 10th and 13th and who will then travel to Hong Kong for the celebrations linked to the visit of the Naval Service vessel the LE Niamh. The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern, will represent the Government in Singapore and Malaysia. The Minister for Education, Dr Woods, will travel to South Africa where his itinerary will include a meeting with his counterpart Dr Kadar Asmal and visits to schools.