French Prime Minister Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin has arrived in Dublin on a state visit to mark Ireland's presidency of the European Union.
President Mary McAleese greeted Mr Raffarin at Áras an Uachtaráin ahead of a meeting with the Taoiseach .
Mr Raffarin arrived at the Áras just after 10 a.m. for 45 minutes of talks before he left for Government buildings. A spokeswoman for President McAleese said they discussed relations between France and Ireland.
The issue of a new constitution for the European Union is expected to be among the issues that will be raised at the meeting with the Taoiseach this afternoon. Mr Ahern has been holding bilateral talks with other EU leaders in a bid to reach agreement on the controversial constitution before the final EU summit of the Irish presidency next month.
Ministers met in Brussels to negotiate the treaty and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, has said he is confident the constitutional treaty can be agreed in June.
Additional reporting PA