News about the Irish & Irish American culture, music, news, sports. This is hosted by the Irish Aires radio show on KPFT-FM 90.1 in Houston, Texas (a Pacifica community radio station)

February 09, 2005

02/09/05 - White House Dismisses Reports

Overall Table of Contents
Table of Contents – Feb 2005

WHITE HOUSE DISMISSES REPORTS ON PATRICK'S DAY BASH
02/09/05 13:05 EST

The White House has dismissed newspaper reports in Ireland
that Northern Ireland political parties will be excluded
from St Patrick's Day celebrations in Washington.

A State Department spokeswoman said the issuing of
invitations was still under review.

"No decision has been taken regarding invites being sent to
Northern Ireland parties," she said.

Diplomats and White House officials claimed they were
baffled to receive calls inquiring why the parties had been
excluded.

A ban would be the first time in more than a decade that
Sinn Fein and the main unionist parties had not taken part
in the March 17th events.

The Taoiseach Mr Ahern told the Dail yesterday that a
decision had already been taken by the Bush administration
on the issue but he did not specify further.

Ireland's Minister for Foreign Minister Affairs, Mr Ahern,
is in currently Washington for a series of meetings and is
expected to be briefed on the situation.
__________________________________________________________

The Irish American Information Service is a non-profit organization
providing up-to-the-minute political news from Ireland to the world.
The IAIS is funded entirely by your contributions. Please send your
tax-deductable contributions to IAIS at the 907 F st NE, Washington
DC 20002. You can visit us on the Web at
http://www.iais.org

Overall Table of Contents
Table of Contents – Feb 2005
Comments: Post a Comment

<< Home

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?