Many Government ministers will spend St Patrick's Day abroad, attending parades in locations worldwide "in order to promote business and tourism links."
The Government released details tonight of the planned trips today with ministers travelling to locations as far apart as Washington and Prague and as exotic as South Africa and Thailand.
The annual exodus by politicians to celebrate the national feast day is one of the biggest ever and has been criticised in the Dáil. However, the Government insisted tonight that St Patrick's Day is a unique global event and offers an unrivalled opportunity for the country to promote itself in foreign parts.
"The Government will seek to maximise opportunities for showcasing Ireland as a world class economy and tourism destination," a spokesman said. "Ministers will promote Ireland at business, cultural and community events in more than 35 cities in all corners of the world.
"St Patrick's Day is equally an important occasion for enhancing the country's links with Irish communities abroad."
Earlier, Opposition TDs in the Dail tried unsuccessfully to vote down a week-long St Patrick's Day parliamentary break to facilitate the Government's foreign visits.
As well as the UK, Europe and the US, other far-flung destinations include Argentina, South Africa, Australia, China and the United Arab Emirates. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and several ministers will visit cities in the US where some of the largest St Patrick's Day parades outside Ireland will be hosted.
Mr Ahern will officiate at events in San Jose and Washington, where he will meet President George Bush for traditional White House celebrations as well as congressmen and business leaders. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern will also visit the US capital for political talks as well as attending the St Patrick's Day parade in Dallas.
Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney will visit Bahrain, which now hosts direct air services from Dublin and South Africa, where Ireland funds development aid projects. Social & Family Affairs Minister Séamus Brennan will represent the Government in Boston, where he will open a major exhibition on John F Kennedy's 1963 visit to Ireland.
Minister for Transport Micheál Martin will fly to New York, traditionally the world's biggest parade, where he will attend several business meetings. Communications Minister Noel Dempsey will visit Seattle, where he will meet Irish immigrant groups.
Britain won't miss out with the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell visiting London, Minister for Sport John O'Donoghue set for Manchester and Minister of State Seán Power traveling to Birmingham. Chief Whip Tom Kitt will represent the Government in Chile and Argentina, which is home to the largest Irish community outside the English-speaking world.
Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan will spend three days in the Czech Republic, where she will attend business meetings and hold talks with her Czech counterpart.
Minister for the Environment Dick Roche has a hectic schedule visiting Japan, Malaysia and Thailand, while the Attorney General Rory Brady travels to Russia, where he will visit an Irish photographic exhibition in St Petersburg. Finance Minister Brian Cowen visits Sydney, while Community Affairs Minister Éamon Ó Cuiv visits New Zealand.
Education Minister Mary Hanafin will meet business leaders during her trip to the United Arab Emirates, the destination of new direct Aer Lingus flights from Dublin. Among the ranks of Ministers of State, Michael Ahern will visit Chicago, Noel Ahern flies to Savannah and Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher will represent the Government in Philadelphia and New Orleans.
Batt O'Keeffe's itinerary takes him to San Francisco, while Tom Parlon visits St Louis and Atlanta. Sile de Valera will travel to Canada, one of Ireland's fastest-growing trading partners.
John Browne flies to Austria, Tim O'Malley visits Belgium, Noel Treacy travels to France, Frank Fahey visits Italy and Tony Killeen jets to Sweden and Norway. Brendan Smith will travel to new EU member Hungary, where he will discuss growing economic ties. Conor Lenihan will visit Shanghai and Beijing in China.