More than a third of the Cabinet will travel to the United States for St Patrick's Day in a diplomatic offensive aimed at the American establishment. Taoiseach Micheál Martin will visit Washington DC and Philadelphia while Ministers will also travel to Boston, New York, Atlanta, Savannah, Chicago, Austin and San Francisco. Forty representatives of the Government will visit 50 cities worldwide as part of the St Patrick's Day trips. Tánaiste Simon Harris will travel to London and Paris, Darragh O'Brien will visit Brazil while Minister Jack Chambers is travelling to Senegal and Nigeria.
Five local TDs are among those who have been included. Longford-Westmeath Deputy and Enterprise Minister Peter Burke will be based in New York. Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW will be on the way to Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide. Austin, Texas is to be visited by Robert Troy, the Minister of State with special responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance.
Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education Marian Harkin will visit France and Monaco. While it will be a first trip for Frank Feighan, following his appointment as Minister of State for Public Procurement, Digitalisation and eGovernment. He's going to Philippines and Singapore.
