Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is in Brussels today to attend a two-day meeting of the European Council.
The Taoiseach was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern at the Spring European Council, which will focus on the Lisbon Strategy for jobs and growth.
The event also provides heads of state and government with a first opportunity to discuss the European Commission's package of draft legislative proposals on climate and energy, which was published last January.
A Government spokesman said financial market stability will also be discussed at the council.
Government spokesman
"The Taoiseach is expected to indicate to his fellow heads of state and government that Ireland remains fully committed to working with the other member states on an ambitious programme to address climate change and on seeking to persuade the wider international community to take action," he said.
"The Lisbon Reform Treaty will provide the Union with improved decision-making processes, a streamlined institutional framework and an enhanced ability to act on the broader international stage to face the challenges of globalisation," he said.
The meeting starts this afternoon and is due to finish by midday tomorrow.
There will be little time for much more than a renewed pledge to stick to existing targets to reduce CO2 emissions in Europe, cut energy use and increase the share of energy derived from renewable sources.
Draft summit conclusions emphasise the importance EU member states attach to the security of energy supply and the opening up of national energy markets to competition.
The conclusions, expected to be formally adopted by the summit tomorrow morning, say firm and ambitious targets agreed last year on climate change and energy policy must be delivered in 2008.
The summit document declares: "The EU is committed to maintaining international leadership on climate change and energy. A key challenge will be to ensure that (the) transition to a low-carbon economy is handled in a way that is consistent with EU sustainable development."