The President, Mrs McAleese, is expected to visit Irish troops serving with the United Nations in Lebanon, the first head of state to visit soldiers on a peacekeeping mission.
She will be only the second head of state to visit southern Lebanon since the outbreak of civil war in the country 18 years ago. The Italian President, Mr Luigi Scalfaro, visited the area after four Italian airmen serving with the UN were killed there in a crash in August. An Irish soldier, Sgt John Lynch, died in the same accident.
Mrs McAleese's visit is still being discussed at Government level, but it is expected permission will be granted for her to visit the UN Interim Force in Lebanon next month.
The Defence Forces yesterday said only that the visit was a matter for discussion. There was no comment from the Aras.
Mrs McAleese paid tribute to the Irish peacekeepers during her election campaign and it is understood she expressed a desire to visit the troops if elected.
She will be the first President to visit one of the UN missions since the Defence Forces started participating in UN peacekeeping in 1958. Irish troops have been serving in Lebanon since 1978, and the 20th anniversary of their participation in the mission takes place next May. It is likely that Mrs McAleese will visit the Irish Battalion headquarters in the town of Tibnin in the interior of south Lebanon.