*Timmy Dooley TD (FF). Photograph: John Mangan
CLARE JUNIOR MINISTER, Timmy Dooley (FF) will be heading to Canada for St Patrick’s Day.
Last week, the Cabinet signed off on plans which will see 38 State representatives visit more than 90 cities in 40 countries across the world for St Patrick’s Day.
Fresh from his appointment as Minister of State with special responsibility for Fisheries at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Minister with special responsibility for the Marine at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, Dooley will be heading to Canada next month.
He will be visiting Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal as part of his trip and for what will be a very rare occurrence since entering political life he will miss St Patrick’s Day parades across Co Clare.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Timmy outlined, “the primary aim is to promote and strengthen links between Canada and Ireland, promoting trade and tourism and engaging with the Irish Canadian families and communities”.
On the spend involved, he said “that is a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs” but stressed the importance of maximising St Patrick’s Day to promote Irish interests. “The access we get around the world for one day surpasses anything that other countries can get access to”.
Mountshannon native Dooley noted the efforts put in by the Irish diaspora in their celebrations on March 17th “to promote Irishness and maintain their link with Ireland”.
“The only downside for me with the trip is that I won’t get to go to the parades in Clare, I’ll be working this year but that comes with the territory,” the Junior Minister said.
