Nine Government Ministers are travelling abroad for the St Patrick’s Day festivities this year, down from the 22 who left Ireland in 2010.
Last year, the then taoiseach Brian Cowen, 10 ministers, 11 junior ministers and the attorney general travelled to 24 countries.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny restricted travel this year to just eight destinations that are priorities for Irish trade, business and jobs, as well as fast-growing emerging markets with future potential for trade.
Mr Kenny travels to the US tonight. He will meet President Barack Obama in the White House in Washington DC on March 17th, while Tánaiste and Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore will travel to New York.
Mr Kenny said he would tell Mr Obama that the St Patrick's Day reception in the White House was a privilege and an honour and that he planned to continue building the very strong bridges that have been there for so many years between the two countries.
None of the 15 Ministers of State will leave the State on official business, while six senior Ministers will also remain in Ireland.
India is the destination for Leo Varadkar, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. Paris beckons for Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney, while Ruairí Quinn, Minister for Education, visits Rome and Milan.
Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald will go to Australia and New Zealand. Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton heads for London for March 16th and 17th. Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs Jimmy Deenihan arrived back in Ireland yesterday after two-day official visit to London.
Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation Richard Bruton will travel to Germany.
Four Fine Gael Ministers will not travel. They are Minister for Finance Michael Noonan; Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan; Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence Alan Shatter; and Minister for Health Dr James Reilly.
Labour's Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin and Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte will also remain in Ireland.
The Taoiseach’s two-day programme will also include engagements with senior US figures from both the administration and Congress, including US vice president Joe Biden and speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner, as well as a range of appointments in support of Irish trade, tourism, culture, business and investment.
WHO'S GOING WHERE:
Washington, DC: Taoiseach Enda Kenny
New York: Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore
Paris: Minister for Agriculture, Marine Food Simon Coveney
Rome and Milan: Minister for Education Skills Ruairí Quinn
Australia and New Zealand (Christchurch): Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald
London (March 12th - 14th): Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht Affairs Jimmy Deenihan
London (March 16th & 17th): Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton
Germany: Minister for Enterprise, Jobs Innovation Richard Bruton
India: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar