Enda Kenny at No 10

Taoiseach Enda Kenny will have his first formal meeting with British prime minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street, though the two have already struck up an acquaintance at a European Council meeting in Brussels. During a busy day in London Kenny intends to visit Irish centres in the city and give a speech at Bloomberg, the financial news agency, before his encounter with Cameron in the afternoon.

However, the two will not give a joint press conference after their meeting – the usual mark of special favour accorded by No 10. Instead Kenny will speak solo to journalists on the street outside. There is a full agenda, including the killing of PSNI officer Ronan Kerr and a review of the plans for Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Ireland next month. The two leaders will also discuss Ireland’s negotiations with the EU, and the apparent refusal of the French, Dutch and Germans to let Ireland’s corporation tax rate lie.

The talks with Cameron are part of the Government’s decision to take a much greater interest in direct meetings with European counterparts. The Bloomberg event will be closely watched by international financial markets, as it will be Kenny’s first time on his own explaining Ireland’s plans for recovery.