Paddy's Day must be a working holiday

The St Patrick's Day ministerial exodus is about to start - accompanied, no doubt, by the usual headlines about junketeering politicians.

The reality is that our national day gives us an annual opportunity to increase Ireland's profile and to boost business and trade. Against this backdrop, a properly planned ministerial trip is often well justified, as long as the ministers involved realise that there is work to do when they get there.

Ireland's ...