The Government is expected to give its approval today for President Michael D Higgins to make an official visit to three countries in Latin America in early October.
The Constitution stipulates that “the President shall not leave the State during his term of office save with the consent of the Government”.
Mr Higgins is to visit Chile, Argentina and Brazil over a period of just less than two weeks.
During his years as a TD, he took a close interest in Latin American issues.
The President has just concluded a three-week course learning Spanish with regular students at Menéndez Pelayo International University in Santander.
He and his wife, Sabina Coyne, both enrolled on a course on Spanish language and culture, the institution said.