The President, Mary Mc Aleese, has robustly defended her weekend attendance at the Jeddah economic forum in Saudi Arabia where women were segregated from men.
President McAleese said it was a privilege to be there and to be able to speak openly with King Adbullah on the advancement of women.
President McAleese also stressed the need for dialogue with the Islamic world to prevent a clash of civilisations.
She was speaking in Jordan where she is now on a three-day State visit.
