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Irish Arts Minister to attend London's St Patrick's Day celebrations

ARTS and Heritage Minister Heather Humphreys will be Ireland’s Government representative in London for this year’s St Patrick’s Day festivities.

Minister of State Joe McHugh will also be Britain-bound with plans for him to visit Scotland.

A total of 27 Irish Ministers, as well as the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, will travel to 45 different global cities in countries ranging from Indonesia, Sweden and Brazil next month.

A series of trade, investment and tourism opportunities have been organised as part of this year’s international St Patrick’s Day ‘Promote Ireland’ programme.

It will see Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Tánaiste Joan burton and Ireland’s Ministers participate in over 100 business events and political meetings in 27 countries.

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys TD (Photo: Photocall Ireland)

London will welcome Minister Humphreys, who will be hoping to build on President Higgins historic state visit to Britain last year.

The value of the trips ‘cannot be overestimated’ the Irish Government has said, adding that last year’s trips helped secure €5million in new business for Irish exporters.

According to Foreign Affairs Minister Charles Flanagan the 2014 programme also reached an audience of over 353,000 and 80million through media coverage.

Announcing the itinerary, Foreign Affairs Minister Charles Flanagan said: “The value of St. Patrick’s Day to the promotion of Ireland overseas cannot be overestimated. The St. Patrick’s Day period is perhaps the best showcase of ‘Team Ireland’ in operation abroad.

He added: “This year’s schedule of travel reflects the importance of both new and established markets, and reflects also the recent expansion of the Embassy network, Diaspora hubs, and Ireland’s work in Development Cooperation.”

Several destinations have been included in this year’s St. Patrick’s Day programme for the first time, including Brazil to which Minister for Education and Skills Jan O’Sullivan will travel.

Minister Richard Bruton is due to visit Paris to promote trade and tourism, while Minister Simon Coveney’s trip to Italy will highlight the Year of Irish Design and Ireland’s participation in Milan’s EXPO 2015.

Ireland will also be represented in the US with Minister Paschal Donohoe travelling to San Francisco, Silicon Valley and San Jose.

There the focus will be on expansion of IDA’s west-coast operations and the planned expansion of the Aer Lingus Dublin-SFO direct service this summer.

Minister Flanagan will be heading to New York, where he will attend traditional festivities, trade and investment events, and meet with key Irish community figures. He will also visit Toronto, Canada, for an Ireland Funds event and to focus on Ireland’s business relationship here, given the new EU-Canada (CETA) trade agreement and the strength of Canadian economy.

The St Patrick’s Day ‘Promote Ireland’ programme was launched as part of Enterprise Ireland’s year-long itinerary of trade missions and international activity for 2015.