Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has accepted an invitation to meet US President George W Bush in the White House tomorrow.
The meeting will take place after Mr Ahern addresses the Joint Houses of Congress on Capitol Hill.
He will be the sixth Irish leader to address a joint meeting of the US Congress. Through the years, France has had eight invitations to address a joint meeting of Congress, while the UK has had seven.
Mr Ahern will also attend a special lunch hosted by Richie Neal, Chair of the Congressional Friends of Ireland in Congress.
Later in the week the Taoiseach will visit Boston, where he will deliver an address at Harvard University.
Ahead of his visit, Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised Mr Ahern as a 'tremendously innovative leader'. She also praised the Taoiseach's leadership in the Northern Ireland peace process.
'He presides over an economy that is the envy of Europe. We look forward to welcoming him back to the US and hearing his vision for continued friendship between our two nations.'
Bertie Ahern attended his final Cabinet meeting as Taoiseach today before setting off for the US.
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