A member of the North's Assembly has called on the First Minister to invite President Bush to attend the annual Twelfth of July Orange Order celebrations.
Ms Pauline Armitage, an Ulster Unionist MLA from East Derry, made her call during First and Deputy First Ministers' Question Time, stressing that the Twelfth could be marketed as a major tourist attraction in the US if the President was invited.
Insisting that the Twelfth should be marketed just like St Patrick's Day, which appeared to unite Northern politicians in their annual pilgrimage to the White House, Ms Armitage asked the First Minister, Mr David Trimble, if he thought a visit by President Bush would have the same beneficial effect for the North. Mr Trimble said no invitation had as yet been extended to President Bush to visit Northern Ireland.
Describing the Twelfth as "the largest folk festival in western Europe", Mr Trimble said he would welcome it becoming an event which could be enjoyed by the whole community and be marketed as a tourist attraction.
Mr Trimble and the Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon, gave a progress report on the setting up of a Northern Ireland bureau in Washington. While its initial aim had been to establish strong economic links with the US, the formation of the devolved administration at Stormont had meant that it would now be operating in a wider political context, Mr Trimble said.
Replying to a DUP intervention that revelations about Mr Martin McGuinness's IRA past would damage the reputation of a bureau in Washington, Mr Trimble said they would do no more harm than the DUP's "hypocritical stance" on not participating in the Executive.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Sports, Mr Michael McGimpsey, was urged to enter into formal discussions with his southern counterpart, Dr McDaid, about the shared use of Stadium Ireland. Mr Barry McElduff (SF) said it was essential to avoid unnecessary duplication of spending on sports facilities throughout the island.
Mr McGimpsey said he was more interested in advancing proposals for a new sports stadium for Northern Ireland as well as other facilities.