Ireland took over the European Union's rotating six-month presidency on Tuesday, promising to focus on stability, growth and jobs amid the bloc's ongoing economic crisis.
Ireland - the first country under an international bailout programme to hold the presidency - is eager to drive forward steps towards banking union, seen as a solution to the crisis, while also seeking answers to its own debt mountain.
Most resented is the outstanding 31 billion euros (41 billion dollars) for failed Anglo Irish Bank. Dublin wants to renegotiate its repayments to the European Central Bank, which amount to 2 per cent of gross domestic product over the next 10 years.
Dublin, which is hosting the presidency for the seventh time since 1975, also hopes to use its traditionally close links with Washington to drive forward a free trade agreement with the United States.
Ireland took over the stewardship of the 27-member EU from Cyprus, and will hand over to Lithuania in July. It is one of the 17 states using the euro currency.