Two of our best-known politicians were in Washington this week: FG's presidential candidate, Mary Banotti MEP was on her way to Akron, Ohio to chair a session of an EU-US conference on education and training. Minister of State, Liz O'Donnell was there as number two on the Government team for the Northern peace talks and as Minister in charge of the Republic's development aid for the Third World.
Banotti spoke about the North on the Diane Rehm Show on National Public Radio and defended Bill Clinton, wondering why independent counsel, Ken Starr, was being allowed to rummage in Monica Lewinsky's underwear.
She was also intrigued to discover that she has a connection with the diplomatic couple which is dazzling Washington with its glittering parties, namely the new British ambassador, Sir Christopher Meyer and his new wife, Catherine. Catherine Meyer who is half-French, half-Russian, contacted Mary years ago as an MEP who was interested in cases of abducted and missing children and later published a book about it based on personal experience.
O'Donnell did an interview with CNN and the rounds of the White House, Capitol Hill and the State Department. She was last there in April as an Opposition member of a Dail committee when the Rainbow seemed to be heading for a new term. Now, as well as calling on the White House, she is looking forward to representing Ireland at the St Patrick's Day parade in Cape Town. She hopes to meet Kadar Asmal, once her law lecturer in Trinity College, now a prominent minister in the South African government.