The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, is paying an official visit to Ireland from 2 to 5 May 2013.

During his visit, the Secretary General is meeting the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore and Justice & Defence Minister Alan Shatter, among others.

Topics for discussion include relations between the 47-nation Council of Europe and the 27-member European Union, of which Ireland currently holds the rotating Presidency, including the EU's accession to the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Secretary General is taking part in discussions at the Joint Department of Foreign Affairs/NGO Standing Committee on Human Rights and the Institute of International and European Affairs.

See also:
Ireland and the Council of Europe