The Taoiseach is defending the move to send eight ministers and the Attorney General to the United States for St Patrick's Day.
Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill are among the Irish delegation going to the US in March.
Education Minister Helen McEntee will go to Australia, while Housing Minister James Browne travels to China.
Addressing the Dáil earlier, the Taoiseach says it's important to maintain the diplomatic relationship with the US,
"President Trump is democratically elected, he's elected by the people of the United States, and one cannot ignore that reality, the economic relationship between Ireland and the United States is extremely significant. it's a trillion euros".
