The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, will visit Dublin today to join President Mary McAleese in celebrating the 21st anniversary of the President's award scheme for young people, An Gaisce. The visit will be seen as bringing a full State visit by Queen Elizabeth, the British monarch, a step closer, though neither government has commented on the matter.
The President and the duke will join 700 young people in the National Concert Hall in Dublin to mark An Gaisce's birthday and the 50th anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
They will jointly present top awards to 90 young people from throughout the island, before the President will host a private lunch in honour of Prince Philip in Iveagh House.
Republican Sinn Féin (RSF) is to hold a protest outside the Department of Foreign Affairs headquarters against the visit of Prince Philip, who travelled to Dublin once before in 1998.
RSF's vice-president Des Dalton said his visit is "merely a warm-up" for a visit by Queen Elizabeth, who, he said, is "a representative of a state which claims jurisdiction over part of Ireland".
Prince Philip's presence in Dublin, along with the recent planned march by loyalists which was stopped after protesters rioted, was "part of a campaign to normalise British rule in Ireland", Mr Dalton said.
Last night, an Áras spokeswoman said that President McAleese has long said that she would welcome a royal visit "but that is a matter for the two governments to decide" and would happen only after the resolution of the peace process.
Welcoming the prince, Green Party TD John Gormley said his visit represented "a further step in the normalisation of relations between both islands", coming as it does 11 years after Prince Charles officially visited.
"Since that time, the peace process has made progress although there have been a number of occasions when it has faltered.
"Nevertheless, despite the reservations of a minority of people, most people on this island, be they nationalist or unionist, believe that the Good Friday agreement is the best way to deal with the problems of Northern Ireland.
"It is only right that President McAleese, who started her presidency as a bridge-builder, should continue this process by inviting Prince Philip to this country," said Mr Gormley.