Taoiseach Travels to Downing Street for Key Talks on Northern Ireland with Prime Minister
The Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen TD, is travelling to Downing St. today for talks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
He will be accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin TD.
It is the third meeting between the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister in recent weeks and follows a series of telephone contacts between both men over the weekend.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland have also been in close contact as the two Governments work together to help resolve the current difficulties on the question of the devolution of policing and justice to Northern Ireland.
The Taoiseach spoke to the Deputy First Minister, Mr Martin McGuinness, on a number of occasions over the weekend.
Officials from both Governments have also been engaged in intensive contacts with each other and with the Northern Ireland parties in an effort to help them to resolve the outstanding issues as soon as possible.
An important meeting between the First Minister and deputy First Minister to discuss those issues is planned for Belfast later today.
At the meeting in Downing St, the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister are expected to assess the evolving situation and to consider how best the two Governments can assist the parties in their efforts to resolve the present difficulties.