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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| White House welcomes NI leaders | White House welcomes NI leaders |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Northern Ireland's politicians are among those meeting George Bush at the official St Patrick's Day celebrations at the White House. | |
| Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern presented a bowl of shamrock to the US President. | |
| The president paid tribute to the leadership of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and said he stood ready to help. | |
| Mr Ahern said the Northern Ireland political process was now at the point of completion. | |
| "Mr President, I believe we are closer, than at any time in our past in Ireland, to a resolution to one of the oldest conflicts in history," said Mr Ahern. | |
| "I hope that our journey can give inspiration and hope to other parts of the world that are in conflict and where people are suffering and in despair." | |
| Mr Ahern is to brief President Bush about the prospects for devolution. | |
| Most party leaders have opted to stay at home to concentrate on negotiations around power-sharing. | Most party leaders have opted to stay at home to concentrate on negotiations around power-sharing. |
| Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain warned Democratic Unionists who thought they could "sneak by" the 26 March deadline for establishing power-sharing would find they had made the "biggest political mistake of their lives" if it is not met, | |
| "My concern, having listened to some of the chatter and speculation is that some of those people who are saying they can't make March 26 - but they might be able to make May or October, or next year or the following year - are going to wake up on March 27 and find they have made the most catastrophic mistake of their political lives." | |
| 'Mood of optimisim' | |
| The plight of victims and concerns about collusion have taken centre stage in Washington. | The plight of victims and concerns about collusion have taken centre stage in Washington. |
| Raymond McCord, whose son's murder was the subject of a Police Ombudsman's report into collusion, will be present. | Raymond McCord, whose son's murder was the subject of a Police Ombudsman's report into collusion, will be present. |
| He is asking the American administration to press the British government over his son's murder and the protection afforded by some special branch officers to loyalist informants involved in murder and other serious crime. | He is asking the American administration to press the British government over his son's murder and the protection afforded by some special branch officers to loyalist informants involved in murder and other serious crime. |
| Mr McCord is part of a cross-community delegation led by Relatives for Justice. | Mr McCord is part of a cross-community delegation led by Relatives for Justice. |
| Geraldine Finucane is also seeking support to ensure that she receives a meaningful public inquiry into the murder of her solicitor husband, Patrick. | Geraldine Finucane is also seeking support to ensure that she receives a meaningful public inquiry into the murder of her solicitor husband, Patrick. |
| The McCartney sisters, Pauline and Catherine, will also be at the White House seeking justice for their brother Robert. | The McCartney sisters, Pauline and Catherine, will also be at the White House seeking justice for their brother Robert. |
| While lobbying continues, there is a public mood of optimisim that political progress is being made. | While lobbying continues, there is a public mood of optimisim that political progress is being made. |
| Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's only Green Party assembly member, Brian Wilson, turned down an invite to the bash. | Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's only Green Party assembly member, Brian Wilson, turned down an invite to the bash. |
| In a statement the party said a two-way trip across the Atlantic to for the event was "not a compelling reason, morally or practically, for emitting half a tonne of CO2". | In a statement the party said a two-way trip across the Atlantic to for the event was "not a compelling reason, morally or practically, for emitting half a tonne of CO2". |
| Business leaders in Northern Ireland have said they believe an economic package of more than £5bn is needed to kick-start and transform the local economy. | Business leaders in Northern Ireland have said they believe an economic package of more than £5bn is needed to kick-start and transform the local economy. |
| The Northern Ireland Business Alliance said the money must be part of any political settlement because a peace process which does not improve the economic lot of people may not be sustainable. | The Northern Ireland Business Alliance said the money must be part of any political settlement because a peace process which does not improve the economic lot of people may not be sustainable. |