The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain begins a two-day official visit to the State today.
Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa will attend a lunch hosted by the Minister for Communications, Mr Dermot Ahern, before meeting the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen.
He will then make a courtesy call on the President, Mrs McAleese, at Áras an Uachtaráin.
This evening he will be conferred with an honorary degree at the Royal College of Surgeons. Tomorrow he will meeting the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.