The Government will soon be dispersing to all corners of the Earth to fly the green flag for St Patrick's Day. Often considered a wonderful junket, ministers now tend to tie a bit of work in to the trip and several make the point that it's well worthwhile, because the national feast is the one time of year when Ireland is top of the agenda. Whether it's tourism, investment or just goodwill they seek, they have a ready-made audience.
The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, will fly the flag in Toronto and Washington. The Tanaiste, Mary Harney, is going to Chicago, Boston and New York and will be doing some IDA business as well. John O'Donoghue will be in San Antonio, Texas where he intends studying the new-style drugs courts for young people and the new prisons for medium-security offenders, (which doesn't sound very jolly at all). Micheal Martin will be in Montreal, Noel Dempsey in Australia and James McDaid in St Louis at the weekend. Charlie McCreevy will be in London and meeting the Chancellor, Gordon Brown about duty-free.
As usual, the Minister for Defence will be visiting our troops in Cyprus, Lebanon and Syria over 12 days from March 12th. Considering the trouble that ensued on previous ministerial visits to officers' messes, leading to two court cases, Michael Smith had better mind himself - especially now that the Army is unwilling or unable to hear what he has to say about compo.
David Andrews is staying at home. Joe Walsh will be at the agriculture ministers' meeting in Brussels and Mary O'Rourke will also be doing a full day's work on the 17th, fighting with the transport ministers in Brussels to retain duty free shopping. She told Quidnunc this week that she intends bringing them all a little gift of duty-free to make her point and wish them at happy St Patrick's Day.