Key Republicans unite to lobby Bush on North

Key Irish-American Republican figures in the US Congress have joined to lobby the incoming Bush administration to ensure Ireland and the peace process remain a central US preoccupation. Sources close to them say they are confident President-elect George Bush will take up the baton from President Clinton. A draft letter to the President-elect is being circulated in Congress. It is understood to remind him of the strong explicit commitment to the peace process in the Republican election platform, and to urge that the new administration maintain it as a high priority. The letter has already been signed by at least three pivotal House figures from New York: Representative Jim Walsh, chairman of Friends of Ireland; Representative Ben Gilman, chairman of the International Relations Committee, and Representative Peter King. Support is expected by the end of the week from senior senators and a number of governors including Oklahoma's Mr Frank Keating.

Sources say Wisconsin's governor, Mr Tommy Thompson, who has been nominated to the Bush cabinet in charge of Health and Human Resources, had indicated his support for the letter prior to his nomination. He is being seen as an important voice inside the cabinet for a visible Irish policy. Mr Thompson was chair of the Republican platform committee and played an important part in ensuring Irish references.

The chairwoman of the National Association of Irish-American Republicans, Ms Susan Davis, expressed confidence that the new administration would continue what she acknowledges was President Bill Clinton's important role. She says officials close to Secretary of State-designate Colin Powell are well briefed on the issues and determined to maintain the US impetus to the peace process.

Earlier concerns by Irish-American activists that Ireland would no longer be handled by the President's own staff in the National Security Council at the White House are understood to be taken up in the letter. But it emphasises that the critical issue is not where Ireland is handled but how high up the agenda it is.

Gen Powell is understood to be keen to bring policy-making under his wing in the State Department but his aides are saying that will not affect prioritisation.

Mr Clinton brought Ireland policy from the State Department to the National Security Council in a move that reflected not just his personal engagement but a desire for a position more independent of Britain. Mr Clinton has often spoken of the initial hostility within the US system to his willingness to take stands opposed by Britain.

Irish-American Republicans hope the commitments made by the party in its platform mean there should be no backsliding on what was a qualitative transformation in US-Irish relations. One visible sign of that was the opening up of the White House to the Irish on St Patrick's Day and Irish-America is waiting to see how this year's festivities are organised. The Republican manifesto, approved at the party convention in August, provides for the possible appointment of a special envoy to the North and calls the Belfast Agreement a "healing document", urging the "complete implementation" of the Patten Commission's recommendations on police reform. On the role of Mr Bush if elected, the section said: "The next President will use the prestige and influence of the US to help the parties achieve a lasting peace. If necessary, he will appoint a special envoy to help facilitate the search of lasting peace, justice and reconciliation."