February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The annual shamrock ceremony was in some doubt in recent weeks and could have been pushed aside by a U.S-led attack on Iraq.
Ironically, however, it was the St. Patrick’s Day deadline imposed by the U.S. and its allies on Saddam Hussein that has ensured the botanical handover.
After the shamrock passes from Irish hands to American, Ahern and Bush will hold a private 30-minute discussion in the Oval Office. An Irish government spokesman said that the two leaders would focus on the latest developments in the Northern Ireland peace process and the looming war against Iraq. The taoiseach would reiterate Ireland’s view that the United Nations had to lead the way in resolving the impasse over Iraq, the spokesman said.
“Mr. Ahern will restate the position that Ireland is anxious to see any action taken in support of U.N. resolutions is done so through the Security Council,” the spokesman said.
The taoiseach would also be stressing the importance of a new resolution that would be used to initiate action on Resolution 1441, signed by Ireland during its recent Security Council resolution, and previous UN resolutions on Iraq stretching back a decade.
Both Irish government and State Department sources have been playing down expectations that the Ahern-Bush meeting will result in an announcement as to who will succeed Richard Egan as U.S. ambassador to Ireland.
Following the discussion between the two leaders, all the visiting Northern Ireland political leaders are expected in the Oval Office for a meeting and photograph with President Bush. Sinn F