Almost €75,000 spent by Department of Foreign Affairs and IDA Ireland for St Patrick's DayMuireann DuffyAlmost a combined €75,000 was spent by IDA Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs in connection with events and trips as part of this year's St Patrick's Day festival. Figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs show a bill of €47,133 was racked up in respect of overseas trips taken by three Government ministers for St Patrick's Day 2023. The department also paid €6,215 in respect of Minister of State for European Affairs Peter Burke’s St Patrick’s Day trip to Italy and the Hold See. Meanwhile, over the same St Patrick's Day period, IDA Ireland spent a total of €27,317, records up to July show. IDA Ireland is responsible for promoting foreign direct investment (FDI) in Ireland, and in a statement accompanying the figures said: “To achieve this, IDA Ireland undertakes marketing activity across the globe of which the St Patrick’s Day campaign is an important element.”It added that some of IDA Ireland’s activities over this year’s St Patrick’s Day period included media and client engagements.

Source: Irish Independent September 16, 2023 19:04 UTC