The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will meet president George Bush twice in the course of a three-day visit to the US next month.
On March 16th, just prior to St Patrick's Day, he will present Mr Bush with a bowl of shamrock as part of the annual White House ceremony.
The previous day, both the Taoiseach and the president will be attending a lunch in Washington hosted by the speaker of the House of Representatives, Democratic congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.
Mr Ahern leaves Dublin on March 13th, making a one-night stopover in New York. On March 14th he will visit the Twin Towers Memorial Centre in downtown Manhattan and meet the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform which campaigns on behalf of the undocumented Irish in the US.
He will also deliver a lecture to the Council on Foreign Relations which is headed by former presidential envoy for Northern Ireland, ambassador Richard Haass. In his address the Taoiseach is expected to dwell mainly on the latest developments in the peace process.
Later that day, Mr Ahern will travel to Washington to attend the annual dinner of the American Ireland Fund, which raises funds to support peace and development in Ireland. Guests of honour at the dinner will be Ms Pelosi and Republican senator Mitch McConnel.
On March 15th, the Taoiseach is due to meet political figures on Capitol Hill with an interest in Irish affairs, including senators Hillary Clinton and Edward Kennedy as well as attending the Speaker's Lunch and a reception hosted by Irish Ambassador to the US, Noel Fahey. The shamrock ceremony at the White House is scheduled for the morning of March 16th, following which the Taoiseach will return home.
