The Transport and Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar says his Cabinet colleagues should not boycott the New York St. Patrick's Day parade.

Yesterday Social Protection Minister Joan Burton said she has made it clear that she will not take part in the event in protest at the parade restrictions on gay and lesbian groups.

New York Mayor Bill De Blasio will also boycott the event. He said last week that he would not march in the Manhattan gathering next month, citing the longstanding tensions with gay and lesbian groups and the prohibition on public displays of gay pride.

"I simply disagree with the organisers of that parade in their exclusion of some individuals in this city" he said in a news conference.

He said he is planning to take part in several other events on that day "to honour the Irish heritage of this city".

However Taoiseach Enda Kenny says he will be taking part.

Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar says a Ministerial boycott of the parade would not work, and that snubbing the parade will not have any impact.