Updated 13.05
The Tánaiste has all but backed his deputy leader's decision to boycott the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York, because gay people are not allowed to express themselves in it.
The coalition's announced one of the biggest tours of the world in years - with the Taoiseach, 27 Ministers and the Attorney General embarking on a mission to promote Ireland.
11 US cities, Canada, Central America, Europe, Russia, the Middle East, New Zealand, and Australia are among the locations marked for ministerial visits.
Every minister is going abroad, apart from Education Minister Ruairí Quinn and OPW minister Brian Hayes.
The Government says the trade events and missions, carried out along with Enterprise Ireland, will focus on promoting the country as open for business and available for investment.
But controversy surrounding the New York parade and its ban on gay people expressing themselves won't go away.
Social Protection Minister Joan Burton says she will boycott it, but the Taoiseach will attend.
Launching the programme Eamon Gilmore says it's important to get the goodwill from St. Patrick's events, but he says he supports ministers' individual choices.
Irish ministers will travel to a total of 22 countries.
*Minister of State Joe Costello was left off the list above, but it has been confirmed that he will travel to Singapore and the Philippines.
