Taoiseach to meet Obama

The Taoiseach Brian Cowen will meet the US president Barack Obama in the White House today for a St Patrick's Day reception.

Brian Cowen will begin the day at a breakfast hosted by vice-president Joe Biden, before having lunch with the Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.

He will then have a 40-minute meeting with the President in the oval office, before returning to the White House later for the reception hosted by the Obamas.

Speaking at the American Ireland Fund dinner in Washington last night, Brian Cowen said Ireland and America continued to have strong and lasting connections and that: "We are confident we can rely on the United States as our key partner and friend."