THE Republic's most senior diplomat in the sphere of Anglo Irish relations is expected to be approved today as Ireland's next Ambassador to the United States.
In a complementary move, the current Ambassador to the US is expected to be brought home to head up the Anglo Irish section of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The appointment of Mr Sean O hUiginn, the present head of the section, as the new Ambassador to Washington is expected to be discussed by the Cabinet. His place will be taken in Iveagh House by Mr Dermot Gallagher, the current Ambassador. The new postings are part of a package of ambassadorial appointments expected to be presented for approval to Cabinet by the Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Spring.
It is understood the new appointments will not come into effect before July. Sources said the changes would have no impact on Ireland's handling of the peace process since both men would remain deeply involved.
Mr Gallagher was head of the Anglo Irish division and a top civil servant involved in the negotiations leading to the tripartite talks on the North before he was appointed to Washington in 1991.
As current head of the AngloIrish section Mr O hUiginn is regarded as a figure of pivotal importance in the peace process. A senior member of the Anglo Irish Secretariat at Maryfield, he worked on the Downing Street Joint Declaration and was described by colleagues as its "conceptualiser".
Observers have noted his deep grasp of the Northern conflict and his optimism in the search for a resolution. Shortly after the Downing Street Declaration he called for patience, saying it was not an attempt to ride roughshod over unionists but that they would be "honourably" accommodated in the agreement.
However, Mr O hUiginn became something of a hate figure for some Northern unionist politicians who claimed that both he and Mr Spring represented a more determinedly "green" approach to the North compared to other officials and advisers working for the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton.
In Washington, Mr hUiginn will be expected to use his considerable talents to ensure that President Clinton's second administration retains a helpful interest in the peace process.
. Joe Carroll adds from Washington: Mr Gallagher has been one of the most successful Irish ambassadors in the US. He was fortunate to be posted to America while US Irish relations reached a new level of warmth and trust with President Clinton and the peace process, but in other areas of classical diplomacy he has been described by one shrewd observer as "superb".
As Ambassador, he cultivated the power makers in Washington both on Capitol Hill and inside the White House and the Clinton administration. Several powerful members of Congress were always ready to take heed of his lobbying when specific Irish issues were at stake, such as conditions for immigrants or tax legislation affecting US companies investing in Ireland.
During the past nine months, Mr Gallagher has had to organise the state visit of President Robinson and the address to Congress of the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton. The EU presidency also involved extra work with the Administration and briefing his ambassadorial colleagues.
While the peace process and the bringing about of the IRA ceasefire was the key issue during Mr Gallagher's term, he did not neglect the less glamorous economic side of his duties. He has gained a high reputation among the influential Irish American business community for his efforts to promote investment in Ireland.
However, certain levels in the State Department are not too happy at the way Mr Gallagher bypassed them to deal directly with the White House over the" peace process. But the policy was, being made in the President's National Security Council and it would have been negligent for an ambassador not to act accordingly.