French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to make his first official visit to Ireland on Monday.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to make his first official visit to Ireland on Monday.
He will meet Taoiseach Brian Cowen during the trip, which is expected to last less than six hours in total.
He will meet Taoiseach Brian Cowen during the trip, which is expected to last less than six hours in total.
The meeting will also be attended by Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin and his French counterpart.
The meeting will also be attended by Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin and his French counterpart.
Earlier this month, Mr Sarkozy said Ireland would have to hold a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
Earlier this month, Mr Sarkozy said Ireland would have to hold a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
However, Micheal Martin said Mr Sarkozy was coming to listen and would not to "impose solutions" on Irish voters, who rejected the treaty on 12 June.
However, Micheal Martin said Mr Sarkozy was coming to listen and would not to "impose solutions" on Irish voters, who rejected the treaty on 12 June.
He stressed that Ireland would make its own decision over the treaty, adding that it was too early to say what that would be.
He stressed that Ireland would make its own decision over the treaty, adding that it was too early to say what that would be.
The French president is expected to hold a press conference and also visit his country's embassy in Dublin.
The French president is expected to hold a press conference and also visit his country's embassy in Dublin.
EU presidency
EU presidency
France currently holds the EU's six-month rotating presidency and is keen to resolve the Lisbon Treaty stumbling block before its presidency ends.
France currently holds the EU's six-month rotating presidency and is keen to resolve the Lisbon Treaty stumbling block before its presidency ends.
Mr Sarkozy was quoted as saying "the Irish will have to vote again" after speaking to deputies from his conservative UMP party.
Mr Sarkozy was quoted as saying "the Irish will have to vote again" after speaking to deputies from his conservative UMP party.
Ireland was the only one of 27 EU member states to hold a referendum on the treaty, which is aimed at streamlining EU institutions to improve decision-making in the enlarged bloc.
Ireland was the only one of 27 EU member states to hold a referendum on the treaty, which is aimed at streamlining EU institutions to improve decision-making in the enlarged bloc.
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