About €4,500 each is roughly how much it costs to send a Minister abroad for St. Patrick's Day. Details of who the government plans to send as Ireland seeks to grow its trade partnerships world-wide are emerging.
It marks a change in attitude for the coalition. For the first two years of their administration they have been reluctant to send ministers abroad.
This year at least 9 of them will travel with the Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe leaving for Australia today. The others will travel to the US, India and Brussels.
The full list is set to be announced next week. But it is understood the break-down will look something like this:
- Leo Varadkar: Japan
- Phil Hogan: Boston
- Frances Fitzgerald: India
- Pat Rabbitte: New York
- Eamon Gilmore: Washington
- Brian Hayes: Brussels
- Joan Burton: Chicago
- Alan Shatter: The Middle East
Taoiseach Enda Kenny meanwhile will take in a week-long trip which will include Washington, New York, Seattle and Silicon Valley.
There is also a widening campaign this year to see more world building to 'go green'.
