Taoiseach to meet Lebanese Prime Minister in Dublin

Taoiseach Simon Harris is due to meet with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati at Government Buildings later today to discuss the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

The meeting is expected to see both leaders raise the ongoing violence in the region, and Ireland's continuing attempts to find a peaceful solution to the situation.

Lebanese Prime Minister Mikati has this week been attending an international conference in support of Lebanon in the French capital Paris, which yesterday saw Tánaiste Micheál Martin pledge a further €5m in aid to Lebanon.

After attending this meeting, Prime Minister Mikati will today travel to Ireland specifically to meet with Taoiseach Simon Harris, due in part to Ireland's continuing support of and calls for a ceasefire in the region.

It is expected that during this meeting the Taoiseach will tell his Lebanese counterpart of his deep concern for the safety of Lebanese civilians in densely populated areas of the country.

He is also expected to say that Ireland remains committed to a United Nations backed ceasefire and will condemn what he has described as the violation of international humanitarian law.

Ireland currently has almost 400 peacekeepers in Lebanon as part of the United Nations UNIFIL mission, with the Taoiseach also due to raise ongoing concerns over their safety.