Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
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122. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the USA which were in receipt of State funding or support; the amount that was spent; and his views on whether it was distasteful in view of the USA's involvement in the ongoing atrocities in Syria. [14397/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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With the busy St. Patrick’s Day just over, a full breakdown of the figures requested is not yet available. I undertake to provide the Deputy with the full breakdown as soon as the figures do become available. I can assure the Deputy that the reinforcement of our close historical and personal ties with the United States through the annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in no way undermines or compromises our foreign policy priorities in other areas. In fact, the St. Patrick’s Day period gives the government an opportunity each year to engage at the highest levels with the US Administration on issues of importance to Ireland.