Ahern to address US Congress

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will join an elite band of international statesmen today with a historical address to a Joint Session of the US Congress.

Following his speech last year to British MPs in Westminster, Mr Ahern will become only the fifth foreign leader to speak at both houses.

The prestigious engagement is one of the outgoing Taoiseach’s last roles in office before he stands down next Tuesday.

Mr Ahern said his address would focus more on the present rather than dwelling on past achievements.

However, he is expected to reflect on the North's peace deal before focusing on issues of mutual concern and the strong economic, cultural and social links between Ireland and the US.

Mr Ahern’s address on Capitol Hill, following an invite by Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi in February, puts him in a group of five renowned statesmen to address both Westminster and Congress.

He follows in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela, Ethiopia’s last Emperor Haile Selassie and French leaders Charles de Gaulle and Francois Mitterand.

Mr Ahern said he had been deeply honoured by the invite.

He was also the first Irish leader to address British parliamentarians at the Palace of Westminster.

After his speech Mr Ahern will meet President George W Bush in the White House, the second time the two leaders have met this year following St Patrick’s Day talks in March.

The formal proceedings at Congress will be followed by a star-studded reception at the Irish ambassador’s residence.

Talks with Senator Ted Kennedy are also planned along with an address at Harvard University near Boston.

Mr Ahern follows a long line of Irish statesmen invited to make the Congress address – John Bruton in 1996, Garret FitzGerald in 1984 and Liam Cosgrave in 1976 were also extended the honour.

Presidents Eamon de Valera in 1964 and Sean T O’Ceallaigh in 1959 also addressed the House.

The address will take place at 11am Washington time (4pm Irish time), and is expected to last one hour.

Mr Ahern will also be honoured at a special lunch hosted by Richie Neal, chair of the Congressional Friends of Ireland in Congress, where he will present the group with a sword of Thomas Francis Meagher, a renowned 19th century Irish revolutionary.

Mr Ahern said he saw the sword “as a symbol of the continuing friendship between the people of Ireland and the people of America”.

He returns to Dublin on Friday, just five days before his departure from office.

The Taoiseach’s last official engagement will be next Tuesday, when he visits the Battle of the Boyne site with Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley.