McAleese to meet Austrian leaders

President Mary McAleese will meet the Irish community in Austria as part of a three-day visit to the country beginning today.

Prof. McAleese's itinerary includes meetings with the country’s President Heinz Fischer and Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel.

Austria held the presidency of the EU until the end of June.

Mrs McAleese will also meet members of the Irish community in Vienna and address a business breakfast hosted by Enterprise Ireland.

A visit to the church of St Gall and a concert by the Viennese Symphony Orchestra are also among the official engagements.

The president has already visited the Middle East, the US and southern Africa during 2006.

Mrs McAleese met staff of Irish non-governmental organisations in Lesotho, Mozambique and Tanzania as she witnessed the results of aid in the region.