Samba and safari for Laois and Offaly representatives promoting Ireland on St Patrick's Day

Ministers Sean Fleming and Pippa Hackett will be jetting off to Brasil, Tanzania and Kenya on St Patrick's Day as part of the biggest-ever mission by the Government to promote Ireland around the world on on March 17.

Minister Fleming and Minister Hackett are among the politicians travelling the farthest.

Fianna Fáil's Laois-based TD Minister Fleming, who has responsibility for International Development and Diaspora at the Department of Foreign Affairs, is set to visit Brazil.

Meanwhile, the Green Party Senator, Minister Hackett who has responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity at the Department of Agriculture is being dispatched to Kenya and Tanzania in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Another Minister who is a TD for Laois and Offaly voters around Killenard is heading to Asia. Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Kildare south Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon is off to Korea.

Here's the full list of Government trips:

• Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, US - Washington
• Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, US - New York, Boston
• Minister Eamon Ryan, Singapore and China - Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai
• Minister Michael McGrath, US - Chicago and Toronto
• Minister Paschal Donohoe, Germany - Frankfurt, Cologne, Berlin
• Minister Simon Coveney, Australia - Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth
• Minister Norma Foley, US - Philadelphia
• Minister, Catherine Martin US - Los Angeles, San Diego
• Minister Darragh O'Brien, US - Atlanta & Savannah
• Minister Heather Humphreys, UK - London & England
• Minister Charlie McConalogue, New Zealand - Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch
• Minister Roderic O'Gorman, India - Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangladesh - Dhaka
• Minister Stephen Donnelly, Canada
• Minister Simon Harris, US - San Francisco and Canada - Vancouver
• Chief Whip and Minister of State, Hildegarde Naughton US - Miami and Mexico
• Minister of State Peter Burke, Italy and Holy See
• Minister of State Sean Fleming, Brazil
• Minister of State Patrick O'Donovan, Thailand and Indonesia
• Minister of State Ossian Smyth, Belgium and Netherlands
• Minister of State Josepha Madigan, UAE and Qatar
• Minister of State Niall Collins, Malaysia and Philippines
• Minister of State, Jack Chambers Japan
• Minister of State, Senator Pippa Hackett, Kenya and Tanzania
• Minister of State Martin Heydon Korea
• Minister of State Anne Rabbitte, South Africa - Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town
• Minister of State  Neale Richmond Spain and Portugal
• Minister of State Joe O'Brien, Poland
• Minister of State Kieran O'Donnell  Croatia and Slovenia
• Minister of State Malcolm Noonan, Austria and Slovakia and Czechia and Romania
• Minister of State Dara Calleary, France - Paris, Strasbourg, Lyon
• Minister of State Thomas Byrne, US - Austin Dallas and Texas
• Minister of State Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, UK -Edinburgh, Cardiff, Liverpool
• Minister of State James Browne, Cyprus and Jordan
• Dail Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl Lebanon
• Seanad Cathaoirleach Jerry Buttimer, Sierra Leone and Liberia
• Attorney General Rossa Fanning SC, Argentina and Chile 

The Department of Foreign Affairs says that in total, 36 State representatives will bring Ireland’s message to 74 cities in 44 countries.

"This year’s programme will see the widest yet engagement by Ireland with Ministers reaching out to partner Governments and Irish communities on every continent," says the Department.

The Department said the objectives for the SPD 2023 programme are as follows:

• On its 25th anniversary, to reiterate our support for consolidating the achievements of the Good Friday Agreement;
• Emphasise the importance and value of our membership of the European Union on the 50th anniversary of our accession to the European Communities;
• Re-affirm Ireland’s steadfast commitment to the people of Ukraine;
• Connect with Irish communities overseas and emphasise the importance of our Diaspora; 
• Build further on relationships with key political leaders, business leaders, decision makers, influencers and stakeholders across the world;
• Celebrate Ireland’s contemporary and traditional arts, culture and heritage;
• Promote Ireland as a great place to live, visit, work, invest in, trade with, and study.

The Department of Foreign Affairs says that this year, St Patrick’s Day will mark ‘100 Years of Ireland in the World’, a century of Ireland's engagement as an active member of the international community in the promotion of democracy, peace and security.  It says Ministers will acknowledge a number of important milestones which occur this year: The centenary of Ireland’s joining the League of Nations, the 50th anniversary of our accession to the then EEC, and the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

"Ministers will emphasise Ireland’s commitment to the international rules-based multilateral system, our membership of the European Union and our commitment to protecting the Good Friday Agreement. The Ministerial programme will celebrate our heritage and renew our links with our global Diaspora and business leaders," said a statement.