( dpa ) - Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern is due to meet Northern Irish First Minister Ian Paisley in Paisley's constituency in the north-eastern county of Antrim later Friday, a statement from Ahern's office said.
The two leaders are expected to discuss upcoming bilateral ministerial meetings and to open a tourist facility near Ballymena.
"Following a number of successful visits to Dublin by the first minister last year, the taoiseach (prime minister) said he is looking forward to returning the compliment by visiting Dr Paisley in County Antrim," the statement said.
The North-South Ministerial Council, a body set up under the peace process that ended the bitter sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland, meets on Thursday in the Irish border town of Dundalk.