US Secretary of state Hillary Clinton is due to arrive in Ireland this afternoon for a two-day visit that will incorporate both Dublin and Belfast.

After touching down in Dublin Airport, Clinton will travel to meet Taoiseach Brian Cowen and foreign affairs minister Micheál Martin at Farmleigh.

Security arrangements will mean traffic could be restricted in the Phoenix Park where Clinton will also visit President Mary McAleese. Her visit is part of a wider trip to Europe which will include Switzerland, the UK and Russia.