The Taoiseach was due to meet Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah today as part of a trade mission to the Middle East.
Bertie Ahern was expected to touch on the priorities he outlined last night in a major policy speech on the problems in the region.
During the courtesy call, Mr Ahern was also expected to raise the need for violence to give way to politics in the region.
Their meeting follows talks between the king and the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, who is also visiting the region.
Ms Rice said the US was willing to step up efforts to promote peace in the Middle East.
'I did say to his royal highness that the US would deepen its involvement in efforts to find a peaceful solution between Israel and the Palestinians', Ms Rice said.
Ms Rice is on an intensive tour of the Middle East, pushing the US President George W Bush's new Iraq policy and urging greater international involvement in the region.
But the main focus of the Irish delegation is trade. Earlier, Enterprise Ireland hosted a large business breakfast for over 400 Saudi and Irish business figures.
Later a separate event is scheduled in which the Taoiseach and his ministers will meet with a group of Saudi businesswomen, reflecting the restrictions in operation in this strict Islamic state.
