Ministerial St Patrick's Day trips abroad ‘significantly reduced’
In a sign of the increasing need to form a government, Taoiseach Enda Kenny is also cutting short his visit to Washington and will return home early to address the political uncertainty.
A number of his senior Fine Gael ministers will also not travel to events abroad as efforts continue on the formation of a government.
The adjusted itinerary for the outgoing coalition will see Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Tánaiste Joan Burton, as well as eight ministers travel abroad to six countries over the next week.
Travel plans had been adjusted in recent days after Mr Kenny spoke with his Fine Gael ministers about the deadlock in forming a new government.
Mr Kenny’s meeting with US president Barack Obama in Washington on Tuesday will be the highlight of the visits, but will see the Taoiseach fly home the next day. He will have breakfast with vice president Joe Biden, later present the traditional bowl of Shamrock to President Barack Obama and then attend various meetings on Capitol Hill and visit the Irish embassy. Mr Kenny had been due to attend the annual American Ireland Fund dinner on the Wednesday.
A statement from the White House last night confirmed vice president Biden will also meet the North’s first minister Arlene Foster and deputy first minister Martin McGuinness to discuss issues on progressing the peace process.
Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan will travel to Washington for events but will go on to New York where he will meet Mayor de Blasio and participate in St Patrick’s Day events, including the city’s parade, which for the first year will see LGBT groups march behind their banners.
Outgoing Tánaiste Joan Burton will travel to Rome and Milan in Italy, where her visit is expected to build on trade and political links between the two countries.
Labour party colleague, Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin, will spend the week around St Patrick’s Day in India and visit New Delhi as well as Mumbai, where Ireland is hoping to tap into the country’s fast-growing economy.
Labour deputy leader and Environment Minister Alan Kelly will spend the festive week on the west coast of the US, where he is scheduled to visit Sacramento, San Francisco and San Diego.
The Government said last night there were huge links with the region, given that 40% of foreign direct investment to Ireland from the US comes from the Silicon Valley area, and there are more than 190 companies based in Ireland from the west coast, employing 36,000 people.
Government chief whip Paul Kehoe is due to spend the week on the east coast, visiting Philadelphia, Albany, Trenton, and Savannah. In Albany, he will attend a special reception hosted by governor Cuomo to mark the 1916 centenary.
Party colleague, Arts Minister Heather Humphreys, is due to travel to Boston where officials said she would have an extensive programme of business and community events.
Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe is to travel to Madrid, Spain, for St Patrick’s Day events. Officials said 343,000 Spaniards travelled here last year and the country remains Ireland’s eighth largest overall trading partner.
Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald will visit London.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said all the visits are aimed at “priority” markets. The department also said this year’s programme is “significantly reduced”.
Ministers will hold meetings with political figures and support Irish community and trade events organised by embassies, the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland and other agencies. The 2015 programme saw 29 members of government, including junior ministers travel abroad.
However, a number of senior ministers this year have turned down invitations. Health Minister Leo Varadkar has turned down a visit to Dubai while Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney is also remaining at home.
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