The Taoiseach Mr Bertie Ahern will travel to the US next week for talks with US President George W Bush, it was announced last night.
Mr Ahern will travel to New York and Boston before meeting President Bush in Washington.
They are expected to discuss the breakthrough in the Northern Ireland peace process and the current military action in Afghanistan.
They are also expected to discuss the United Nations Security Council, which Ireland chairs until midnight tonight.
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Mr Ahern will also meet UN Secretary General Kofi Annan during the three-day trip and will visit Ground Zero, where the World Trade Centre stood before the terrorist attacks of September 11th.