DUP leader the Rev Ian Paisley tonight pledged to lobby President Bush for a block on republican fundraising when he has talks in Washington.
Mr Paisley and his deputy, Mr Peter Robinson, have confirmed they will join Northern Ireland's political leaders at a St Patrick's Day reception in the White House.
But as he prepared to fly out tomorrow, Mr Paisley said: "I certainly will be insisting that President Bush uses his power to prevent Irish republican terrorists from fundraising in the United States."