The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, will today attend his last cabinet meeting before handing over power to Taoiseach-in-waiting Brian Cowen.
Mr Cowen will step into the role of Taoiseach and head of the Fianna Fáil party next Tuesday.
Later this afternoon, Mr Ahern will travel to Washington ahead of his address to the Joint Houses of Congress tomorrow, the sixth Irish leader to do so and the fourth visiting statesman to have addressed both Congress and Westminster. Earlier this month, Mr Ahern said the occasion would be one of the proudest moments of his career.
On April 2nd, Mr Ahern announced that he would step down on May 6th amid increasing pressure over his finances. He denied any wrongdoing, and said his resignation was "Solely a personal decision" motivated by "what is best for the people" and inspired by the desire to "refocus the political dynamic in Ireland".
The move marks the end of a long political career for the Taoiseach, which began in 1977 when he entered politics. Mr Ahern was elected leader of Fianna Fáil in November 1994 and became the first Taoiseach since 1944 to be elected on three successive occasions.
