A group of US politicians has drawn up a plan for a free trade zone in the north east which extends across the Border.
The blueprint, to be discussed with government leaders after the general election and with the British premier, Mr Tony Blair, envisages setting up a number of US factories in the Republic and the North. They will export products tax free to the US.
A leading US lawyer, Mr Tom Rodgers, who is attached to the Senate Finance Committee, is in Ireland to discuss the projects with trade leaders. He said yesterday: "This will be the biggest ever industrial breakthrough for the country - it will mean thousands of new jobs and a big economic upswing."
More than 50 US Congressmen, some of whom are due in Ireland next month, are involved in putting forward legislation which will legalise the anew marketing links with the Republic. A lobby of MEPs will be undertaken to get EU approval for the plan.