In the lead-up to the St Patrick's Day events in Washington, the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, is leaving for the US today for a 10-day visit during which he will brief President Clinton on his efforts to have the IRA ceasefire restored.
Mr Hume, who holds a visiting professorship at Boston College, will also give a series of lectures on Northern politics and the peace process.
He is the keynote speaker at Irish America Magazine's Person of the Year awards next Friday, the recipient being Senator Ted Kennedy.