St Patrick's Day Intinerary: James Lawless Heading To India While Martin Heydon To Remain In Ireland

Wednesday, 12 February 2025 12:42

By Martin Osborne

Kildare South TD and Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon is the only Cabinet minister who will be staying in Ireland.

The Government will launch a charm offensive on the United States this St Patrick’s Day.

It’s sending the Taoiseach, Tanaiste and eight Ministers to America to build relationships under the Donald Trump administration.

37 Ministers, the Chairs of the Dail and Seanad and the Attorney General will all head off on St Patrick’s Day trips across the world.

Ten will go to the US with the Taoiseach heading to Washington and Texas and the Tanaiste off to New York and Philadelphia.

Kildare North TD and Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless is heading to India.

Kildare South TD and Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon who will be staying in Ireland.

As will Michael Moynihan and Michael Healy Rae.

Elsewhere Paschal Donohoe will go to Germany, Helen McEntee is off to Australia and James Browne is off to China.

The Opposition has raised questions about the American trips – with Richard Boyd Barrett from People Before Profit saying Ireland shouldn’t bend the knee to Donald Trump who he described as a bully.

In the midst of all these trips, every year one Minister has to stay at home to steer the ship if something goes wrong.

That person this year is Michael Healy Rae.

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