Agriculture and Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue will travel to Canada as a St Patrick’s Day visit.
32 Ministers and Junior Ministers will be jetting off to destinations like New Zealand, South America and the US this year after a hiatus caused by the covid pandemic.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin will also visit London and then Washington where he will hand over the traditional bowl of shamrock to US President Joe Biden.
Former Minister Pat Rabbitte says while the cynicism around the visits is inevitable, he says they are a unique opportunity for Ireland: