Taoiseach Brian Cowen is to address a United Nations summit for the first time as leader next month.
Mr Cowen will attend the UN’s New York headquarters for a meeting of dozens of heads of government at the annual General Assembly meeting.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin and Minister of State for Overseas Development Peter Power will also be travelling for official engagements.
The 63rd General Assembly will open on September 23rd and conclude on October 1st.
Much of the work will focus on development issues in Africa, particularly progress achieved on the Millennium Development Goals.
Mr Cowen is expected to update the UN on Ireland’s commitment to reaching its overseas development aid spending target of 0.7 per cent of GNP by 2012.
The Taoiseach is due to attend the UN High-Level meeting on Millennium Development Goals with other world leaders on September 25th.
He has previously addressed the UN as minister for foreign affairs.
Mr Martin is expected to make his office holder’s annual address to the General Assembly while Mr Power will attend the UN High-Level Meeting on Africa.
Mr Cowen addressed the UN several times between 2000-2003 as Minister for Foreign Affairs.
A few weeks after the UN engagements, the Taoiseach will lead a trade delegation to China and visit major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai.
The Enterprise Ireland event, which takes place from October 19th-24th, will include representatives from Irish industrial sectors specialising in IT, aviation and financial services.
Reuters