A leading member of the US Congress today called on British prime minister, Mr Tony Blair to re-examine and adopt the Patten reforms into the new policing bill.
Republican congressman Mr Benjamin Gilman of New York, who has served as chairman of the International Relations Committee since joining Congress in 1995, lead a US congressional delegation today to discuss the Patten report and policing in Northern Ireland with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
Mr Gilman described Mr Patten's report as "extensive" and "outstanding" and said the implementation of its 175 proposed reforms was the responsibility of both the Irish and British governments.
However, he said he was "concerned about the watering down of these reforms in the House of Commons and House of Lords", and called on Mr Blair to re-examine the proposals and produce a "working, good police reform programme".
However, Mr Ahern, ruled out any possibility of coming to an agreement over the issue when he meets with the British Prime Minister on Wednesday. He said he hoped an agreement could be finalised soon, and was "conscious that we can't go on like this forever".
Meanwhile, congressman Mr Peter King from New York pledged the support of President George W. Bush to the Northern Ireland peace process "when asked". He said the new president would "make himself and his administration available whenever the need arises".