Departments scramble to change St Patrick's Day plans to avoid travelling over Middle East

Foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee confirmed on Tuesday that the Irish Government will charter flights, with up to 280 people expected to be offered seats on a plane in the coming days. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

Government departments are scrambling to change ministers' travel plans for St Patrick’s Day amid concerns about flying over or through the Middle East.

Several ministers have had their flights changed, cancelled, rebooked, and rerouted in recent hours amid uncertainty about whether it will be possible to travel through international transit hubs, such as Dubai, or through Emirati airspace.