Updated 15.50

The Taoiseach and the German chancellor Angela Merkel have held a private face-to-face meeting in Berlin.

The two leaders discussed the fallout from last week's EU summit, and the prospect of a deal on Ireland's legacy banking debts.

This afternoon the Taoiseach is addressing a conference of 2,000 business leaders in the German capital.

He told them that it was in the best interests of every European country - including Germany - that Ireland get a deal on its legacy bank debt:

Earlier, Mr. Kenny began his day-trip to Germany by opening a Primark store at Alexanderplatz in Berlin. The store will employ 800 people.

Primark director Breege O'Donoghue says the clothing giant is now a major employer in Germany.

"We have got 6,100 staff in Germany and of course we have had huge support form the Irish staff in opening all our stores here in Germany" she said.

"They come to give us support to learn and give train the trainer schemes" she added.

Meanwhile, the Taoiseach echoed those sentiments when he pointed out that Irish companies are bigger in Germany than German companies are in Ireland, "You've got Cement Roadstone and Smurfitt and Kingspan. Glen Dimplex and the Irish Dairy Board who operate here, right across Germany and in Europe. Irish companies - I'm glad to say - in Germany employ 14,000; German companies in Ireland employ 11,000. So we've actually got an imbalance here in your favour."

His day also includes a trade event at the Irish embassy.