Government announces biggest ever St Patrick’s Day Programme
Press release
14 February 2023The Government today announced the 2023 St Patrick's Day programme, which will see the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Government Ministers take part in an extensive international programme to promote Ireland and Irish interests around the world.
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. In all, 36 representatives of the State will bring Ireland’s message to 74 cities in 44 countries.
St Patrick’s Day offers an unmatched opportunity to promote Ireland abroad. It is an important part of the Government’s ‘Global Ireland’ strategy which seeks to promote Ireland as an outstanding location to live, visit, work, invest in, trade with, and study.
This year, St Patrick’s Day will mark ‘100 Years of Ireland in the World’, a century of our country’s engagement as an active member of the international community in the promotion of democracy, peace and security. Ministers will acknowledge a number of important milestones which occur this year: The centenary of Ireland’s joining the League of Nations, the fiftieth anniversary of our accession to the then EEC, and the twenty-fifth 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.
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.
ENDS
Press Office
14 February 2023
Notes to the Editor
The following visits will take place as part of the St. Patrick’s Day programme:
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 |
Ceann Comhairle |
Seán Ó Fearghaíl |
Lebanon |
Cathaoirleach |
Jerry Buttimer |
Sierra Leone and Liberia |
Attorney General |
Rossa Fanning SC |
Argentina and Chile |