Sarkozy and Merkel meet to discuss debt crisis

The leaders of France and Germany are meeting in Paris this lunchtime to discuss the response to the euro debt crisis.

Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel are kick-starting a crucial week for the single currency, with all EU leaders set to gather in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.

Today's agenda will focus on bringing the two leaders closer together on the future of the eurozone, after they set out their stalls individually last week.

Minister for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton has denied that everything will be decided by the time Ireland gets to have its say at the end of the week: