Taoiseach flies to US
Brian Cowen will visit New York today for a series of meetings with political and business leaders.
The trip's main focus will be a visit to the White House and a meeting with President Obama on St Patrick's Day.
With Ireland's economic situation deteriorating and the Government battling to come up with ways to deal with the recession, Cowen will be keen to use this visit to the US to strengthen relations between the two countries and in particular promote business and trade links.
Cowen flies to New York later today, where he will meet with leading Irish Americans and prominent businessmen.
On Monday morning he will attend an Enterprise Ireland Trade gathering before travelling down to Washington for St Patrick's Day celebrations at the White House on Tuesday.
The recent killings of two army officers and a police constable in the North are likely to be on the agenda when Brian Cowen holds a bilateral meeting with President Obama - the Taoiseach is understood to be keen to stress to the new President that despite these events the peace process remains on track.
