The US government could play a very helpful role in the Northern Ireland peace process by seeking a more liberal regime for loyalist prisoners, the Minister for Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
The Government was constantly pressing the British on this issue, Mr Burke added. "Support from Washington through the British government on this issue would be very helpful."
Mr Burke said Dublin had brought in some changes concerning republican prisoners on transfers and conditions. "If we could see something similar being done for loyalist prisoners, it would be very helpful to the whole process."
Mr Burke will be able to raise this matter with the US Administration when he meets President Bill Clinton's National Security Adviser, Mr Sandy Berger, at the White House today.