US officials are to meet with the European Commission today to discuss the rights of EU citizens in relation to data protection.

The meeting comes following the leaking of details of America's largest ever surveillance programme.

Clarification is also to be sought as to whether or not access to personal data is limited to individual cases and based on concrete suspicions, or if it allows bulk transfers of data.

Details about the secret US surveillance programme, Prism, were revealed by Edward Snowden, 29.

The meeting will be chaired by Justice Minister Alan Shatter under Ireland's EU Presidency.