Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Cowen will face questions about the possible appointment of a Garda ombudsman at a meeting in Dublin of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary body today.
After addressing delegates - and members of the Northern Ireland, Scottish, Welsh, Channel Island and Isle of Man assemblies - Mr Cowen will host a question-and-answer session.
The policing ombudsman question will be raised by Mr Tony Killeen, Fianna F´il TD for Clare, and British delegate Lord Dubs - a former Northern Ireland Office minister.
Mr Cowen will also discuss common policing standards on both sides of the border and the number of applications from the Republic to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland or the North’s police board.
Another session of the conference will consider a motion welcoming the joint Scottish-Irish bid to host the 2008 European soccer championships.
The two-day conference, which opens this morning, is the 24th of its kind since the body was set up 12 years ago.
PA