THE US congressman, Mr Joe Kennedy, will visit Belfast next week to attempt to bring about a new IRA ceasefire.
The son of the late Senator Robert Kennedy, Congressman Kennedy has a long standings interest in Northern Ireland affairs but has not had a high profile in the peace process.
He has consistently urged US government intervention in Northern Ireland since the mid1980s.
Congressman Kennedy is expected to meet both republican and loyalists as well as government officials during his visit.