POINTING out that a date had been set for all-party-talks, President Clinton last night called on the IRA to renew its ceasefire, and promised that the United States would continue working with all sides to achieve peace.
Mr Clinton was speaking in New York where he was honoured as `Irish American of the Year' by Irish America magazine.
Flanked by Senator Edward Kennedy and the US Ambassador to Ireland, Mrs Jean Kennedy Smith, Mr Clinton paid tribute to the work of the publisher of Irish America, Mr Niall O'Dowd as a peace maker for Northern Ireland.
"We must not allow those who have been hardened by the past to hijack the future of, the children of Northern Ireland," Mr Clinton told the gathering of 1,000 prominent Irish Americans in New York's Plaza Hotel.
A firm date had been set for the all-party talks they all had been working for, the President said, adding to sustained applause: "Violence has no place in this process, the ceasefire has got to be restored . . . We must speak with one voice on this issue. The future must belong to those who build, not to those who maim or destroy."
The US would continue to work closely with Catholics and Protestant, and the British and Irish governments to achieve a lasting peace, he said.
America could play a "special role" and he would honour his commitments to peace.
The President praised Mrs Smith, who received a standing ovation on her first public appearance since being reprimanded by the US State Department two weeks ago for acting against diplomats who opposed her approval of visa for the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams in 1994.
"She had a large hand in the positive developments of the last few years," Mr Clinton said.
"Her commitment was tireless. So was her willingness to pick up the phone and call the President."
The ambassador told the president: "Your trip to Ireland lit new fires of hope and the troubles of recent weeks have not quenched those fires".
Senator Kennedy's voice trembled with emotion as he recalled his brother, President Jack Kennedy, visiting Ireland with his sister Jean Kennedy.
He said of the ambassador: "I'm proud of what she has achieved and I'm sure Jack would be too."
Mr Clinton headed a list of 100 people honoured for their services to the Irish-American community.
They included film stars Liam Neeson and Angelica Houston. Also in the audience were the SDLP leader, Mr John Hume; the former Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds; both of whom Mr Clinton singled out for tribute Senator Chris Dodd, chairman of the Democratic Party; Congress Members Mr Peter King and Mr Tom Manton of New York; and Mr Bill Flynn and Mr Bruce Morrison of the peace mission to Ireland.
The Government was represented by the Minister for Tourism and Trade, Mr Kenny, and the Northern Ireland Office by, Baroness Denton, who said: "We're all climbing a mountain and we're not going to be blown back down again.
Mr O'Dowd told Mr Clinton that without him there would have been no peace in Ireland nor would there be.
The Tipperary-born publisher, a key figure in the peace process, said: "In the last few weeks, sadly, the ceasefire has ended. We regret that breakdown and we strongly oppose the violence. But the peace process has not ended.
Americans believe there can no place whatsoever for violence, but equally there can be no place for any more divisive preconditions before all-party talks in a revived peace process.
"The United States has played an invaluable role in acting as a de facto guarantor for the entire process to date. I believe strongly that if they continue in that role safeguarding as much as they can everybody's interests, then this peace process can and will be revived.
"It is a great responsibility you have undertaken in Northern Ireland as guarantor of peace. But every Irish American is with you every step of the way.
The oldest person in the Top 100 was 106-year-old Sister Mary Eregina Kelly from Chicago.
She sent a video message to say her father voted for Abraham Lincoln, a Republican but she was voting for Mr Clinton