Senior Government ministers will host important EU meetings in their home counties when Ireland takes up the presidency at the start of next year.
Finance ministers will meet in Co Kildare, foreign ministers will meet in Co Offaly and health ministers will meet in Co Cork.
The biannual ecofin meeting of EU finance ministers will be held in April in Punchestown, Co Kildare, which is in the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy's constituency.
The Gymnich meeting of foreign ministers will take place in Tullamore, Co Offaly, the hometown of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen.
TD for Cork South Central and Minister for Health Mr Martin will host a cardiovascular health conference in Cork.
Other counties hosting events include Kerry, Waterford and Galway, although Dublin Castle will be the primary venue for meetings.
Preparations for Ireland's presidency of the EU are well under way, with over 100 meetings of member state heads of government, ministers and dignitaries planned throughout the State.
The Minister with special responsibility for European affairs, Mr Dick Roche, told reporters today that that the presidency gives Ireland a chance to showcase its attractiveness to European visitors besides dealing with affairs of State. Meetings will also be held in Co Wicklow - Mr Roches' constituency.
"The spin-off good will for Ireland and the future tourism is likely to be quite significant," Mr Roche said.
The Minister also said there a strong chance that the first EU treaty bearing an Irish name could be signed next year when he indicated that talks on an EU constitution could conclude during the presidency.
Italy holds the presidency and hopes to conclude the work of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), which is drawing up the constitution before the hand over to Ireland. But Mr Roche described the timetable as "ambitious".
One historic event certain to occur during the Irish presidency is when ten accession states will formally join the EU on May 1st and a "major celebration" is planned.
"We will have the honour of presiding over the reuniting of a continent after so many years divided by conflict and dictatorships," Minister Roche said.
Among other issues to be addressed during the six-month term will be:
- making the EU a knowledge-based economy
- EU common security policy
- Romanian, Bulgarian and Turkish membership applications
An EU/US conference is due during the Irish presidency, but Mr Roche said there was no indication that it would be held in Ireland.
A special website for the presidency will be launched in the autumn.