Former US president Bill Clinton has been invited to deliver a keynote lecture at Trinity College in Dublin in May.
The speaking engagement is said to be a possible opening to a new involvement in the politics of Northern Ireland.
It's reported Mr Clinton will receive as much as £100,000 for the lecture. Nationalist politicians are said to have lobbied for Mr Clinton to be appointed as a special envoy to Northern Ireland.
However, President Bush is said to have ruled that out because of fears it might undermine his own foreign policy.
It has been reported Mr Clinton plans to meet politicians from several parties and may even travel to the North.
It said he was attracted to the lecture offer after the former South African presdident, Nelson Mandela, spoke at Trinity and received an honorary degree last year.
PA