St Patrick's Day travel plans of politicians

Brazil, China, Japan, Hong Kong and the US west coast are among the destinations chosen for this year's St Patrick's Day trips by senior Irish politicians.

Government Ministers, Ministers of State and leading political figures will spend the St Patrick's Day holiday in 11 countries across the globe.

According to a Government spokeswoman, this year's St Patrick's holiday exodus is more important than ever because there is a greater need to promote Ireland as a tourist destination and to build trade relations against the backdrop of worsening global economic conditions.

Depending on international events, travel plans may change but the Government Information Service said virtually all of this year's trips had been finalised.

While 22 leading political figures are preparing to jet off for St Patrick's Day celebrations, many, including the Taoiseach, will be back in time to spend the big day, March 17th, at home in Ireland.

The President, Mrs McAleese, will spend the national day in the sunshine in Sydney, Australia. The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, will follow the well-beaten path to the US, where he will be joined by no less than eight of his colleagues in Government.

Mr Ahern heads to Washington while the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, will go to Boston. The Chief Whip, Ms Mary Hannafin, is planning to go to New York. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, is bound for San Francisco.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, will spend some of the holiday period in San Jose, California. The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, will go to Savannah. The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr Dick Roche, will be in Chicago. The Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Dr McDaid, goes to Philadelphia and the Minister of State for Labour Affairs, Mr Frank Fahey, will be in San Diego.

Amongst the most far-flung and exotic destinations to receive an official Irish visit during the holiday period are New Zealand, Hong Kong, South Africa, the Republic of Korea, Japan and Brazil.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr Tom Kitt, makes the long trip to New Zealand, taking in both Wellington and Auckland. The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Mr Noel Treacy, is jetting off to Hong Kong. The Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Mr Tom Parlon, is bound for South Korea. Completing the Asia quartet are the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, who goes to China, and the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Mr Liam Aylward, who goes to Japan.

The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cuív, jets off to Johannesburg. Perhaps luckiest of all is the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Mr Cullen, who goes to Brazil.

The Minister of State for Health and Children, Mr Ivor Callely, is off to Manchester and Birmingham. The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, is going to Scotland, and the Attorney General, Mr Rory Brady SC, will be in London.

Paris is set for a visit from the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Joe Walsh. The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Coughlan, will visit Oslo.