New Taoiseach Enda Kenny will hold a meeting with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso tomorrow evening, sources have told RTÉ News.
It will be the first international engagement as Taoiseach for Mr Kenny.
The hour-long meeting will take place in the European Commission headquarters in Brussels on the eve of a special summit of EU leaders on Friday.
Both men are expected to discuss the key issues of Irish interest, which will form part of intense discussions at EU level over the next three weeks.
They include the interest rates Ireland pays for the bailout, the issue of corporation tax and the future handling of the Irish banking sector.
Friday's special summit of eurozone leaders will discuss the so-called Competitiveness Pact, the Franco-German initiative designed to address some of the key issues which have led to the year-long sovereign debt crisis in the eurozone.
Diplomats say the question of Ireland's interest rates and our corporation tax system are almost certain to be raised at the meeting, although final agreement on a comprehensive package of measures is not expected until the main EU summit on 24-25 March.
Today, President Barroso congratulated Mr Kenny on his election as Taoiseach.
'Ireland is not alone in facing economic and financial difficulties at this particular time,' he said.
'Other European governments are facing similar situations to a greater or lesser degree. The fiscal and reform efforts that are being made by the Irish people are very much appreciated.'
Mr Kenny has pledged to defend Ireland's 12.5% corporate tax rate and has objected to the creation of a common corporate tax base across the EU.
Most observers agree that the consent of German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be key to any overall agreement, including any reduction in Ireland's interest rates.
Ms Merkel faces a series of challenging regional elections, including a critical poll in Baden-Württemberg at the end of March.
Opinion polls suggest the Christian Democratic Union's 58-year reign in the regional land could be under threat.
