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Twenty-nine members of the Irish Government are due to travel abroad to 22 countries in five continents over the next two weeks to take part in St Patrick's Day celebrations. Friday, March 17th is St Patrick's Day. The Houses of the Oireachtas (Parliament) have sat for 20 working days since January 1, 2006. Fifteen members of the Cabinet and 14 junior ministers will visit 35 cities to take part in local St Patrick's Day celebrations and to promote Irish trade and cultural links.The Government has said that in deciding on the trips, it "has sought to maximise opportunities for showcasing Ireland as a world-class economy and tourism destination". Describing St Patrick's Day as "a unique event in the global calendar", a statement said the "goodwill and attention offer an unrivalled opportunity to promote modern Ireland overseas and to engage directly on a variety of issues". Ministerial visits to Ireland barely merit a mention in our media and with the exception of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's planned visit to Washington D.C. where he will present President Bush with a bowl of shamrock at the White House, the remaining ministerial visits will hardly be earth shattering.
Each Minister will be accompanied with a retinue of civil servants and political advisers who would have fought for a place on a tour that will see Ministers heading to every Continent. Is it more than a coincidence that South Africa is the only African country to be visited by the Irish Government Abroad tour this week? Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Mary Harney and an entourage, will visit South Africa even though Irish aid workers are based in many countries of the Continent, working in difficult conditions, who more deserve Ministerial recognition. However, some of the places would have far from first-class facilities befitting our Ministers. Meanwhile, Minister for Overseas Development Conor Lenihan is heading in comfort, presumably with a group of deserving civil servants, to China. He wouldn't have much business, spending time in places like Darfur, West Sudan, "showcasing Ireland as a world-class economy and tourism destination." Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, four Government Ministers and five Junior Ministers will travel to the United States. Ahern goes to San Jose in southern California and to Washington D.C. where he will meet President Bush and other senior US politicians. Minister for Foreign affairs Dermot Ahern will visit Dallas and Washington D.C.; Minister for Social Affairs Séamus Brennan will visit Boston; Minister for Transport Martin Cullen will be in New York; and Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey will be in Seattle. Tánaiste Mary Harney, escaping the hospital trolley crisis, will be away almost two weeks, visiting Bahrain in the Middle East, before travelling to South Africa to take part in celebrations in Pretoria and Cape Town. Minister for Tourism John O'Donoghue will visit Manchester, and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell will be in London. Minister for Finance Brian Cowen is heading to Australia, while Minister for Community and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív is visiting New Zealand. Government Chief Whip Tom Kitt will visit Argentina, Attorney General Rory Brady is to head to Russia, and Minister for Education Mary Hanafin travels to the United Arab Emirates. Minister for the Environment Dick Roche is travelling to Japan, Malaysia and Thailand, while Minister for Overseas Development Conor Lenihan is going to China. Two Cabinet members, Willie O'Dea and Micheál Martin, will remain in Ireland.
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