President McAleese to visit Germany

President Mary McAleese is making a three-day official visit to Germany next week.

Her itinerary is expected to include the historic cities of Berlin and Munich.

The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan, will also be travelling with the delegation to hold talks with German politicians and officials.

Mrs McAleese will depart on Sunday after she attends the Six Nations rugby game between Ireland and Scotland at Croke Park on Saturday.

The president will be attending the fixture with Princess Anne, the first British royal to visit the GAA stadium.

Mrs McAleese’s official overseas destinations in 2007 included New Zealand, Belgium, Italy, Jersey and Guernsey.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will also be making whistlestop visits to Poland, Austria and Slovenia next week.

On Monday, President McAleese will receive a ceremonial welcome to Germany by President Horst Kohler, before laying a wreath at the Neue Wache War Memorial and visiting the Brandenburg Gate.

President McAleese is also scheduled for a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as a visit to the Bundestag, the German Parliament.

Arriving in Munich on Tuesday afternoon, President McAleese will meet with Minister-President of Bavaria, Dr Guenter Beckstein and the Irish community in the region.

On Wednesday, the President will visit the towns of Wurzburg, Stromberg and Wiesbaden before arriving in Frankfurt where she will meet with Mr Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank.