THE White House and the State Department have informally congratulated the Fianni Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, on the good showing of his party in the election and assume he will eventually be named Taoiseach. But until this happens, there will be no formal reaction from the US Administration, writes Joe Carrofl in Washington.
When asked for a reaction to the result of the election, officials said that the Administration looked forward "to continuing the warm US Irish relationship with the new government" whenever it is formed, "and to working closely on bilateral issues, European issues and the Northern Ireland peace process."
The last time Fianna Fail was in power, the then Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds, worked closely with President Clinton and the US ambassador to Ireland, Ms Jean Kennedy Smith, in bringing about an IBA ceasefire.
Mr Ahern paid a one-day-visit to Washington last March before the St Patrick's Day celebrations when he discussed Northern Ireland affairs with officials in the White House and the State Department, as well as with senior politicians.
The new minister for foreign affairs may wish to pay an early visit to Washington rather than wait for the usual September trip around the time of the Irish speech to the United Nations General Assembly.