German Chancellor Angela Merkel was expected in the Irish capital Dublin later Monday for talks with Prime Minister Bertie Ahern expected to focus on the EU Reform Treaty ahead of an Irish referendum on the treaty aimed at streamlining EU decision-making. This is the first visit by a German chancellor to Ireland since former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder visited the country during the Irish presidency of the European Union in 2004, the statement was quoted as saying by DPA. Ahern met with Merkel on May 31, 2007, in Berlin.
