Meath Ministers to jet off for St Patrick's Day
Meath's three government TDs will be travelling abroad this St Patrick's day to the US, Italy and Sweden.
Government Ministers will travel across the globe to represent and promote Ireland on St Patrick’s Day, with 33 ministers to travelling abroad.
Due to Covid-19, in-person ministerial-level visits were possible only in a very limited way in 2020 and not at all in 2021.
As the trips resume this year, Justice Minister, Helen McEntee will travel to Savannah, Georgia in the US while Minister Thomas Byrne will visit Italy and Minister Damien English will travel to Sweden.
This year’s St. Patrick’s Day programme will see 33 high level visits abroad which will take place in line with local Covid-19 public health guidelines.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin will travel to Washington to meet President Joe Biden and will also visit London and Washington DC.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar will visit Colombia and Chile and Transport and Minister Eamon Ryan will be in New York.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney, Social Protection Minister, Heather Humphreys and junior minister Malcolm Noonan will remain in Ireland.
A Government statement said ; "The central message of this year’s St Patrick’s Day is that Ireland is reopening, and the international programme will focus on the theme of Rebuilding Connections and Supporting Communities across the globe.
"St Patrick’s Day is the primary flagship for realising the ambition of the Government’s ‘Global Ireland’ programme to promote Ireland as a great place to live, visit, work, study, and invest, with an integrated, all of Government, Team Ireland approach.
"In this centenary year of the foundation of the State, and as Ireland marks the 50th anniversary of accession to the EEC, ministers will underline Ireland’s commitment to the European Union, reinforce Ireland’s commitment to protecting the hard-won peace in Northern Ireland, and celebrate our heritage and renew our links with our global diaspora and business leaders.
"The hugely successful ‘Global Greening’ initiative will continue this year, with More than 600 iconic landmark buildings around the world planned to be lit up green to celebrate St Patrick’s Day."