Twenty-nine members of the Government are to travel abroad to 22 countries in five continents over the next two weeks to take part in St Patrick's Day celebrations.
Fifteen members of the Cabinet and 14 junior ministers will visit 35 cities to take part in local St Patrick's Day celebrations and to promote Irish trade and cultural links.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, four Government Ministers and five junior ministers will travel to the United States.
Mr Ahern goes to San Jose in southern California, the capital of Silicon valley, and to Washington, where he will meet President Bush and other senior US politicians.
Minister for Foreign affairs Dermot Ahern will visit Dallas before travelling on to Washington; Minister for Social Affairs Séamus Brennan visits Boston; Minister for Transport Martin Cullen will go to New York; and Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey is heading for Seattle.
Tánaiste Mary Harney is to spend more than a week abroad, visiting Bahrain in the Middle East, before travelling to South Africa to take part in celebrations in Pretoria and Cape Town.
Minister for Tourism John O'Donoghue will go to Manchester, and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell to London.
Minister for Finance Brian Cowen will travel to Australia, while Minister for Community and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív is visiting New Zealand.
Government Chief Whip Tom Kitt will visit Argentina, Attorney General Rory Brady is going to Russia, and Minister for Education Mary Hanafin travels to the United Arab Emirates.
Minister for the Environment Dick Roche is travelling to Japan, Malaysia and Thailand, while Minister of State with responsibility for Development Aid Conor Lenihan is going to China.
The trips will focus on promoting Ireland as a "knowledge economy" to tie in with a new promotion campaign by the IDA and the publication of a new book on Irish scientists.
The Government said last night that, in deciding on the trips, it "has sought to maximise opportunities for showcasing Ireland as a world-class economy and tourism destination".
Describing St Patrick's Day as "a unique event in the global calendar", a statement said the "goodwill and attention offer an unrivalled opportunity to promote modern Ireland overseas and to engage directly on a variety of issues".
Two Cabinet members, Willie O'Dea and Micheál Martin, will remain in Ireland.