Ahern to address US Houses of Congress

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern will address the joint US Houses of Congress on April 30, becoming the sixth Irish leader to do so.

The event will offer Mr Ahern welcome respite from his Mahon Tribunal difficulties.

The Taoiseach can expect a rapturous reception in Washington, in contrast to the grillings he is receiving at Dublin Castle.

Mr Ahern is held in extremely high regard in the US, as evidenced by the remarks of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, after she issued the formal invitation.

“Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is a tremendously innovative leader, on issues ranging from his leadership in the Northern Ireland peace process to the genocide in Darfur to combating climate change,” she said.

“He presides over an economy that is the envy of Europe, indeed the world.

“We look forward to welcoming him back to the US Capitol and hearing his vision for continued friendship between our two nations.”

Mr Ahern last night said he was looking forward to the occasion. A spokesman said the Taoiseach would make a 30-minute speech, which would likely cover issues such as the peace process, the economy, and US investment in Ireland.

When he makes the address, Mr Ahern will become the sixth Irish leader to address the joint Houses, following President Sean T Ó Ceallaigh in 1959, President Eamon de Valera in 1964, Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave in 1976, Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald in 1984 and Taoiseach John Bruton in 1996.

He will become just the fifth person to address both Congress and Westminster, following his speech to the latter in May last year.

In doing so, he follows Nelson Mandela, François Mitterrand, Charles de Gaulle and Haile Selassie I.

Meanwhile, Mr Ahern appeared to take a swipe at the tribunal last night.

He is due to reappear at the tribunal to give evidence this Thursday and Friday, although it is still unclear whether those appearances will go ahead given his court challenge to prevent the inquiry questioning him on certain issues.

Speaking in an interview, Mr Ahern said: “I’ve been dealing with the tribunal now for a decade. That’s nearly as long as I’ve been Taoiseach. It’s my duty to do that as best I can, and just hope that there’s fair procedures, at least some of the time, if not most of the time, and I continue to do that.”