14/03/2016

TDs To Travel Overseas For St Patrick's Day

The 2016 programme of travel for St Patrick's Day has been released by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan.

This year, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Tánaiste Joan Burton and eight other ministers will travel abroad to six priority markets to promote trade, tourism, investment and education services.

The destinations reflect a strong emphasis on trade and diaspora links and have been identified as priority destinations by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade following consultations with the embassy and consulate network and state agencies including Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland, Bord Bia and Science Foundation Ireland.

With the international profile of St. Patrick's Day the envy of countries around the world, the programme of visits provides a very valuable and unique annual opportunity to promote Ireland abroad, develop our trade and economic links with overseas markets, as well as connect with the Irish diaspora, not least in this historic 1916 Centenary Year.

The 2016 programme is, however, significantly reduced from that delivered in 2015. It will focus on trade, investment and tourism promotion in a smaller number of destinations in North America, Europe, and Asia. In each location, ministers will undertake a number of meetings with political figures and support Irish community and trade events organised by the embassy network, Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland, and Tourism Ireland.

The most significant meeting will be the Taoiseach's meeting with the US President, Barack Obama, in Washington DC.

The list of TDs and their destinations include:

An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny - USA (Washington DC)

An Tánaiste, Joan Burton - Italy (Rome, Milan)

Minister Charles Flanagan - USA (NYC)

Minister Frances Fitzgerald - UK (London)

Minister Richard Bruton - France (Paris)

Minister Brendan Howlin - India

Minister Heather Humphreys - USA (Boston)

Minister Paschal Donohoe - Spain (Madrid)

Minister Alan Kelly - USA (Sacramento, Silicon Valley/San Francisco, San Diego, LA)

Government Chief Whip and Minister of State Paul Kehoe - USA (Philadelphia, Albany, Trenton, Savannah)

(MH/CD)

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