Taoiseach to meet President Obama in Washington

The Taoiseach will meet the US President in Washington later today.

Brian Cowen has been invited to the White House to celebrate St Patrick's Day in the company of Barack Obama.

The two men will hold a bilateral meeting to forge stronger ties between Ireland and the US.

The meeting will be followed by a ceremony in the Roosevelt Room, during which Brian Cowen will present President Obama with the traditional bowl of shamrock as well as baptismal records of the President's Offaly ancestor and a photo of the church where he was baptised.

There's speculation that President Obama could use the occasion to announce Dan Rooney as the new US ambassador to Ireland - the owner of American football team the Pittsburgh Steelers Mr Rooney is a prominent Irish American.

Speaking last night Brian Cowen said they would discuss the economic crisis and the relationship between the two countries.

He said he would also be speaking to the US President about politics in Ireland and recent events in the North.