Patrick's Day trips put Ireland in global spotlight, but Gaza will cast a shadow this year 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (right) presents US president Joe Biden with a bowl of shamrock at the White House in 2023.

In March, 38 representatives of the State will "bring Ireland’s message" to 86 cities in 48 countries.

The cadre, which includes every minister, 20 junior ministers, the Ceann Comhairle, the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad and the Attorney General, will head to the US, to Australia, to Brazil and China and Japan and Singapore and Cardiff as Ireland grabs the global spotlight for a week.

The scale of the exodus is a guaranteed point of contention and conversation every single year as focus shifts to the cost (around €175,000 in 2022) and the perception among some sections of the country that the trips are little more than jollies taken on the taxpayer dime as ambassadors across the globe lay out the Ferrero Rocher and champagne.

But that cost is also relatively small - last year events were held in nearly every mission across the globe, with the 896 events costing less than €700 each on average for a total of €618,152. The Irish embassy in Washington DC had the largest single spend with its 34 events coming in at €55,000, while the embassy in Mexico's 14 events came to €35,000. The embassy in London carried out 41 events for €27,800. Ireland's consulate in Chicago ran 21 events for just €1,696.

So, for a cost of around €800,000, Ireland gets to command the attention of governments and businesses and cities across the globe, wielding the kind of soft power that many governments dream about.

That corner of the public which isn't a fan of the trips will say that the week replaces a week of serious work which could be undertaken here in Ireland. And, while there is serious work done on the trips, no politician would honestly say that it is not a bit of a thrill to be feted or invited to lead parades or raise the first pint of black stuff. But the point is that there is serious work done and as an island nation that relies heavily on foreign investment, being able to be in the room, to meet, to woo is important and the alternative - Zoom calls, emails, solitary tweets from staid social media accounts - does not really replace that.

The truth about the trips is that the politicians are largely used to ease open doors. For many trips - most notably to Washington DC - the Taoiseach and his staff will be joined on the Aer Lingus plane by not just a corps of journalists, but by lobbyists and trade organisations who use the the shamrock and tricolour bunting as a battering ram with which to get into rooms that are closed to most year-round. In Washington DC last year, one Irish lobbyist told me that his industry was able to get into a room in St Patrick's week with influential American policy makers who were due to make a major determination on his product, a decision worth potentially millions to Irish companies.

But this year's visits come with an additional layer of complexity. In a year when Ireland's response to Gaza is commanding the domestic spotlight, the decision to go to the White House, in particular, will see the Government criticised by those who believe it is inconsistent to criticise Israel while breaking bread with its largest international supporter.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has made the point that the visit will give him the chance to put forward the views of the Irish people on the issue and we should not turn down that chance, but he is likely to face further pressure in the coming weeks if a ceasefire isn't forthcoming.

If it's not, expect the questions in DC to be about more than just green beer and the diaspora.