The Taoiseach will visit the Middle East in January, the first head of government to do so. Mr Ahern is expected to stay overnight with the Irish UN battalion in south Lebanon between official engagements.

Although his itinerary is yet to be completed, Mr Ahern is scheduled to travel to Beirut on January 17th. The following day he visits the Irish battalion headquarters at Tibnin, south Lebanon, and may stay overnight.

He is then expected to travel to Jerusalem to meet the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, and to Gaza to meet the Palestinian leader, Mr Yasser Arafat. He will finish his trip in Cairo.

Government sources said yesterday the list of meetings was not finalised, and the itinerary had still to be agreed fully with the states involved.