Higgins calls for audit of St Patrick's Day junkets

Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins has called for a post-St Patrick's Day audit to determine if the junkets undertaken by government ministers have any beneficial effects for Irish tourism or the economy.

Ministers will go on 20 trips paid for by the taxpayer this March 17.

The Government has claimed that these trips will help promote Ireland abroad, but Mr Higgins has challenged the Fianna Fail-Progressive Democrats coalition to provide proof of these benefits.

"If they say they are going to bring tourism to the country or to enhance employment here at great public expense, then I think we should have an audit, down the line, of what exactly each trip achieved," he said.