Taoiseach to meet Estonian leader in Dublin

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern,  will meet the Estonian Prime Minister, Mr Juhan Parts, in Government Buildings this afternoon for talks…

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern,  will meet the Estonian Prime Minister, Mr Juhan Parts, in Government Buildings this afternoon for talks on the future of the European Union.

The meeting is the latest in a series of talks Mr Ahern is holding with the leaders of European Union member states and accession countries during Ireland's EU presidency.

Mr Ahern is to report to the European Council next month on  his efforts to secure consensus on the stalled Intergovernmental Conference talks to agree a draft EU constitution.

"I have been encouraged by my contacts to date and have found my colleagues eager to find a way forward," Mr Ahern said ahead of today's meeting. "But it remains too early to say if that commitment to making progress can be translated into a compromise deal in our presidency."

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He said he will tell Mr Parts that the Irish presidency "will continue to make every effort to build consensus and to facilitate agreement over the coming months".