Delegations from EU countries and accession states are in Dublin to attend a two-day conference on the challenges facing an enlarged EU.
The conference is a gathering of chairpersons of Foreign Affairs committees and is hosted by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Dr Michael Woods TD.
The theme of the conference is "Challenges for the EU in a rapidly changing world" and several related topics will be discussed and debated including EU policy towards its European neighbours and the prospects for stability and development in Africa.
The advancement of the Lisbon Agenda will also be discussed. The Lisbon Agenda is the commitment made by EU heads in Lisbon three years ago to bring about economic, social and environmental renewal in the EU.
Guest speakers include the American Ambassador Mr James Kenny, the Chinese Ambassador Mr Sha Hailin and Mr Vladimir Rakhmanin who is the Ambassador of the Russian Federation.
Other speakers at the conference include the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, Minister for State, Mr Tom Kitt, the UN Secretary General's Executive Coordinator for the Millennium Development Goals Ms Eveline Herfkens, the Tánaiste, Ms Harney and Mr David Begg, General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
The conference ends with lunch tomorrow at Christchurch Cathedral.