THE White House expects Mr George Mitchell to continue to play a prominent role in the Northern Ireland peace talks when they resume today.
Last Thursday a senior administration official was praising Mr Mitchell's "monumental achievement" so far in producing the report on decommissioning of paramilitary arms and then in chairing the early and difficult period of the all party talks.
Observers here say that Mr Mitchell will continue to chair the talks at least until the US elections in November. If it is clear by then that the talks are getting nowhere, Mr Mitchell might be prepared to accept a senior post in a second Clinton administration or may opt to return to a lucrative private law practice.
Mr Mitchell, who addressed the Democratic convention in Chicago recently on US foreign policy including Northern Ireland, has also had discussions with senior officials about the Northern talks although he is regarded as "an independent personality" and not as an envoy of President Clinton.
Mr Mitchell is also listed as speaking at the US Conference for Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties in Pittsburgh on October 6th.
Patrick Smyth adds from Tralee: The Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs yesterday dismissed as purely speculative reports that Mr Mitchell is about to resign from the talks.
"Our understanding is that George Mitchell is coming back to be fully engaged in the peace process and the negotiations. I look forward to meeting him tomorrow morning," Mr Spring said.
The Tanaiste stressed that the Government was keen to see Mr Mitchell staying on. "Mr Mitchell," he said, "has played an important role, as have his fellow chairmen. They work together very well as a team, as they did in relation to the report on the decommissioning question. We certainly value his presence and his involvement with the talks."