Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

I join with Senator Ross in applauding Ministers who leave the country for St. Patrick's Day. It is a great honour for the diaspora to see elected Members and Government Ministers and there is much work to do on such occasions. I went to Chicago independently and attended St. Patrick's Day parades on Saturday and Sunday, the latter in south Chicago. They were wonderful occasions. However, there needs to be balance and some Ministers could have managed to return to Ireland for St. Patrick's Day itself.