Ireland is sending 38 ‘representatives of the State’ around the world as part of the St Patrick’s Day programme this year.
The representatives include the Taoiseach, 14 ministers, 20 junior ministers, the Ceann Comhairle, the Cathaoirleach and the Attorney General.
In all, they will visit 86 cities in 48 countries – working to promote Ireland as a “great place to visit, work, study, trade with and invest in”.
The White House fountain is died green to celebrate St Patricks Day, 17-03-2022. Image: Adam Schultz/White House PhotoThe Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will travel to Boston and Washington where he will meet US President Joe Biden at the White House.
Meanwhile, Tánaiste Micheál Martin will make his way to Canada where he will visit Vancouver, Ottawa and Toronto.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan is off to Brazil, while the Finance Minister Michael McGrath is heading for China.
The theme for this year’s exodus is “Ireland’s Future in the World”.
The Government said the representatives will “focus on young Irish people and our diaspora, and their perspectives about the world of the future and Ireland’s place in it”.
2PEX8XB Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with Monica McWilliams and Hillary Clinton at the 'Women at the Helm' conference at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, 16-03-2023. Image: PA Images / AlamyMeanwhile, ministers will “emphasise Ireland’s commitment to international peace and security and the rules-based multilateral system, especially at this time of conflict and turbulence”.
They will also highlight the strength of Ireland’s economy, our active membership of the European Union, our commitment to protecting the Good Friday Agreement, and the high priority we attach to climate action and sustainability.
The full list of ministerial trips is below:
- Taoiseach Leo Varadkar | United States - Washington & Boston
- Tánaiste Micheál Martin | Canada - Vancouver, Ottawa, Toronto
- Transport Minister Eamon Ryan | Brazil
- Finance Minister Michael McGrath | China
- Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe | France, Bulgaria
- Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney | India, Bangladesh
- Minister for Education Norma Foley | UK - Edinburgh, Cardiff, Manchester, London
- Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin | United States - Nashville, Austin
- Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien | South Africa, Zambia
- Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys | United States - Springfield, Chicago & Madison
- Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue | Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan
- Minister for Integration Roderic O'Gorman | Japan - Tokyo, Osaka
- Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly | Australia - Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
- Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris | UK - London
- Minister for Justice Helen McEntee | United States - New York
