Adams, Paterson hold talks with Clinton in Washington

The North's Secretary of State Owen Paterson and Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams today met for separate talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The meetings took place in Washington as part of a week-long programme of events surrounding St Patrick’s Day in the US.

In a statement, Sinn Féin said discussions ranged across the state of the economies north and south;; the transfer of fiscal powers from London to Belfast; outstanding issues arising from the Good Friday Agreement and the need for greater co-operation and harmonisation north and south.

They also spoke about the role of the Irish diaspora, voting in Irish Presidential elections for Irish passport holders living abroad, and the upcoming Constitutional Convention being organised by the Government.

Speaking after the meeting which he described as “very helpful and informative” Mr Adams said: “Secretary of State Clinton is very well informed on developments in Ireland and understands the importance of continuing to invest in and manage the peace process.

“I expressed to her my concerns at the failure of the British government to engage properly with the process and in particular its recent cuts to the block grant used to fund the North."

Meanwhile Mr Paterson extended an invitation to her to pay a further visit to the North.

Mr Paterson said Mrs Clinton remained keenly interested in events in the North and a further visit could help encourage the growing levels of US investment.

The Secretary of State said Mrs Clinton and her husband Bill had been important allies of the peace process during their time in the White House and since then had helped build economic ties.

“I have invited her to come to Northern Ireland,” he said.

“After all she has done, I think it would be wonderful to get her to come.”

He said Mrs Clinton was up to speed on recent political and economic developments.

“We had a really serious meeting. She is really well briefed.”

Mrs Clinton has visited the North as First Lady, as a senator and in her capacity as US Secretary of State.

Mr Paterson said he was also struck by the level of attention shown by US leaders to Irish affairs around St Patrick’s Day.

He attended a major reception at the White House where the Taoiseach was also present, and that was preceded by a string of top level meetings with US Vice President Joe Biden and other figures from across the American political spectrum.

Mr Paterson said of the St Patrick’s Day events: “I don’t see it has diminished. It is a very good opportunity to explain to people what is going on.”

He said the discussions, which in the past would have been dominated by the peace process, had changed: “Now we are talking about the economy.”