merrion street

IN his first international engagement as Taoiseach, Enda Kenny will travel to Brussels this afternoon for a meeting with Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission.

The engagement comes ahead of meetings of the European Council and the Eurozone Heads of Government on Friday.

The two leaders will consider the issues to be discussed at Friday's key summits. The meeting of the European Council will consider the situation in Libya and the surrounding areas, while the Eurozone meeting will focus on economic coordination and related issues in the euro area.

The Taoiseach is expected to take the opportunity to brief President Barroso on the new Government's policy priorities and to reaffirm Ireland's commitment to the European Union.