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E-mailHillary Clinton seeks Irish crisis breakthrough
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives in Dublin today and Belfast tomorrow amid speculation that she can help ensure a dramatic breakthrough in the current impasse in Northern Ireland.
She is accompanied by Declan Kelly, her economic envoy to Northern Ireland, as well as some leading Irish-American supporters.
She will also discuss the issue of the undocumented Irish in America with the Irish government and will be briefed on the latest efforts by the government to try and help secure immigration reform.
Prior to her visit British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has met on three separate occasions with First Minister Peter Robinson of the Democratic Unionist Party and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein to try and avert a crisis that threatens the peace process.
The two leaders are at loggerheads over plans to devolve the administration of policing and justice issues to local control in Northern Ireland.
Robinson is feeling pressure from hard line factions within his own party and elsewhere to end the power sharing government. Sinn Fein has warned that any attempts to change the blueprint documents for the power sharing government will have dire consequences.
The Brown talks are said to have led to a better atmosphere between the two Northern leaders. Now the hope is that Hillary Clinton, making an historic visit to both Dublin and Belfast will be able to get the deal over the line.
She is scheduled to meet the Northern Irish leaders tomorrow, as well as meet British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Chequers.
The former First Lady will also hold talks with the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowen and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin at Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park.
Economic investment in Northern Ireland will also be high on her agenda at the talks in Belfast. Clinton will also make a courtesy call on President Mary McAleese at 4pm on Sunday.
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