THE question of whether the President, Mrs Robinson, would be a candidate for secretary generalship of the United Nations came up again yesterday during her state visit to Washington.
In response to questions on the matter the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, indicated that the Government would support her if she was offered such an opportunity.
He told Irish journalists: "If there are opportunities for Irish people anywhere to achieve high office at any time in the world, it would be incumbent on us to support that. There is no doubt about that."
Earlier at a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, the President insisted that she was not a candidate for the UN post and did not know whether there would even be a vacancy.
"I do not want to comment further," she said firmly.
She added that her term as President continued until next November and that she could go for another term. She had not yet addressed the question of a nomination for a second term". But she had made it clear she was not a candidate for the UN post "because I want to continue in office as President".
The Tanaiste when asked later about the matter said: "I can only quote the President. I cannot comment outside of the remarks made by the President herself."
He then went on to say that it would be "incumbent" on the Government to support Irish people who had opportunities for high office.
The Washington Times reported yesterday that the US would like to block the Secretary General, Dr Boutros Boutros Ghali, from a second term but would have to postpone the decision until after the US presidential election on November 5th.
It also reported that President Robinson has been mentioned as a likely candidate and that Senator Kennedy was lobbying for her.
The President had another busy schedule on the fourth day of her visit to the US. She began with a breakfast meeting on Capitol Hill with the House Speaker, Mr Newt Gingrich, and other congressional leaders.
After her press conference she visited the "America 1846" exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery and then went to the US Supreme Court for a lunch hosted by Chief Justice Rehnquist.
In the afternoon, she laid a wreath in Arlington cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and visited the graves of John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy.
She also paid respects at the grave of the former secretary of commerce, Mr Ron Brown, who was killed in an air crash in Croatia last April.
This was followed by a meeting in the Jesuit run Georgetown University with representatives of staff and students.
Her day ended with a dinner in the Irish embassy residence hosted by the ambassador, Mr Dermot Gallagher, and his wife, Maeve. The attendance included some members of President Clinton's cabinet and staff.
Today President Robinson will end her visit with a reception for the Irish community and will fly back to Ireland by Government jet in the afternoon.