ieExplains: How will Ireland's presidency of the EU work and what events will take place?

Taoiseach Micheál Martin with the president of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola at Dublin Castle for a meeting this week ahead of Ireland assuming the EU presidency. Picture: Niall Carson/Pool/RollingNews.ie

Over the next six months, Ireland will receive a conveyor belt of Europe's top politicians: from commissioners, to Government heads, to senior officials as we take over the rotating EU presidency.

Ireland will be at the centre of EU decision‑making, steering complex negotiations that shape laws and policy for about 450 million people.