The President, Mrs McAleese, paid a courtesy call yesterday to the King of Thailand in the idyllic seaside resort of Hua Hin.
On the second day of her official visit to the country, Mrs McAleese had a 45-minute audience with King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-serving monarch, in his summer palace.
The 74-year-old monarch, who is on the throne nearly half a century, asked Mrs McAleese if Irish eyes were still smiling, when he greeted her in a wood-panelled room in the ornate palace overlooking the sea.
In a reference to the peace process, the King said he was happy that the situation in Ireland had improved. Mrs McAleese said Ireland was grateful for the support of the process from the international community.
She explained to the King that she was to attend the Asian Gaelic games in Phuket this weekend, and gave the elderly monarch a briefing on the art of Gaelic football and hurling.
A spokeswoman for the President said Mrs McAleese did not raise the issue of the imprisonment of Irish citizen, Mr Colin Martin, in Chonburi Prison in Bangkok, during her talks with the King, who can give pardons. Mr Martin has been in jail since July 1997 and was given a 13-year sentence in July 2000 for murder.
The spokeswoman said the President had been briefed on the case by the Irish Ambassador, Mr Dan Mulhall, who is following developments closely. However, as an appeals process was under way, the issue of a royal pardon could not be broached, she said.
Mr Martin maintains his innocence and has alleged that he was beaten and tortured by Thai police and forced to sign a confession admitting murder.
Before her visit to the Royal Summer Palace, the President had a half-hour meeting with the Thai Prime Minister, Dr Thaksin Shinawatra, in Government House in Bangkok. They discussed strengthening economic relations between Ireland and Thailand. The Prime Minister expressed particular interest in the area of education as a possible focus for increased co-operation.
Earlier yesterday, the President launched the new Asia-Ireland Chamber of Commerce, the first official Irish business chamber to be established in the region.
Speaking at a gathering of 200 Irish and Thai businesspeople in Bangkok, she said one of Ireland's key aims was to develop more intensive links with the dynamic economies of Asia. "Our companies need to acquire a greater global reach through astute partnerships in key regions," she said.
Last year sales to the Asia Pacific region exceeded €9 billion. Asia now accounts for 10 per cent of Irish exports.
The President raised a laugh at the launch when she referred to Britain's non-membership of the euro zone.
Going off script, she pointed out that Ireland was, in fact, "the only English-speaking" member of the zone. Her comment caused the Swedish ambassador to Thailand to laugh loudly from the audience.
"I hope that wasn't the British ambassador laughing," she joked.
The British ambassador, Mr Barnaby Smith, did not appear to take offence at the gentle ribbing. He smiled, keeping his head down.