Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Question 84: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the Ministers and Ministers of State that travelled abroad to represent Ireland for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations; the countries to which they travelled; the benefits of continuing such a tradition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13544/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware, over this St Patrick's Day period, the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and 16 Ministers travelled to 15 of Ireland's key trading partners to promote Irish business, tourism and culture overseas and to advise our international partners that 'now is the time to invest in Ireland's recovery'. St. Patrick's Day offers a unique opportunity to promote Ireland's image and interests abroad, with huge interest, from both media and the public, in Ireland and in Irish events around the world.

Ministerial visits around this period are organised to ensure that we maximise the promotion of Ireland's economic interests. The programme of travel is drawn up in consultation with the Embassy network and the State Agencies. Each visit aims to utilise the opportunity of St Patrick's Day to improve and strengthen relations with Ireland's key business and community contacts.

My own programme in Canada gave me the opportunity to meet with political and business leaders as well as members of the Irish Community based there. The programme for my visit was developed in close consultation with the Embassy of Ireland in Ottawa, Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland and IDA Ireland and supported the valuable work that they do in promoting Ireland as a place to do business.

A full list of the Ministers who travelled abroad for St Patrick's Day is below.

Full List of 2012 Ministerial Programmes

North America

Chicago, Indiana, New York & Washington DC – Taoiseach

Canada – Tánaiste

New York – Minister Joan Burton T.D.

New York – Minister of State Kathleen Lynch T.D.

West Coast USA – Minister Richard Bruton T.D.

Atlanta – Minister Jimmy Deenihan T.D.

Boston – Minister Frances Fitzgerald T.D.

UK

UK (Birmingham & London) – Minister Leo Varadkar T.D. and Minister of

State Michael Ring T.D.

Glasgow & Edinburgh – Minister of State Dinny McGinley T.D.

Continental Europe

France – Minister Michael Noonan T.D.

Italy – Minister Pat Rabbitte T.D.

Benelux – Minister Simon Coveney T.D.

Germany – Minister of State Paul Kehoe T.D.

Finland & Sweden – Minister of State John Perry T.D.

Asia

China – Minister of State Ciaran Cannon T.D.

Singapore – Minister Brendan Howlin T.D.

Australia

Australia and New Zealand – Minister Alan Shatter T.D.