TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY is to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin today where the two are likely to discuss Ireland’s legacy bank debt.

The Taoiseach is due to meet with European leaders individually in the run up to Ireland’s presidency of the EU which begins on 1 January 2013.

In a statement, a government spokesperson said Kenny and Merkel will discuss the Irish government’s priorities for the Irish presidency, progress in relation to Ireland’s bailout, and bilateral relations between the two countries.

The German leader caused controversy and confusion a fortnight ago when she appeared to rule out the prospect of the Eurozone’s new permanent bailout fund being used to recapitalise banks retrospectively, in what was seen as a major blow to Ireland’s finances.

However in a joint statement released two days later, the Taoiseach and the Chancellor said that Ireland is a “special case” and affirmed that Europe remains committed to splitting Ireland’s banking and sovereign debts.

The Irish state has already paid €64 billion to prop up Ireland’s banks and prevent them from imploding. Irish government ministers have repeatedly said that they would like help from the EU in dealing with the burden of the giant debt.

The Taoiseach will also launch The Gathering, the government’s plan to encourage an additional 325,000 people to visit Ireland in 2013, when he visits Berlin today.

Read: German finance minister ‘very impressed’ with ‘special case’ Ireland >