THE leader of the SDLP has arrived in the US for a 10 day visit and lecture tour which will include a meeting with President Clinton on Northern Ireland.
Mr John Hume will be followed by other political figures from North and South who are coming to the US for a series of events centred on St Patrick's Day celebrations.
The Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, will be in Boston, New York and Washington.
The biggest delegation will be from the Ulster Unionist Party and will include the leader, Mr David Trimble, Mr Ken Maginnis, Mr John Taylor and Mr Jeffrey Donaldson. They are expected to have a briefing session at the White House.
Other Northern politicians coming include the leader of the Alliance Party, Lord Alderdice Mr David Ervine of the PUP and Mr Gary McMichael of the UDP.
The Minister for Education, Ms Breathnach, will be in New York and Montreal representing the Government for St Patrick's Day celebrations.
Many of the Irish politicians will be attending the American Ireland Fund gala dinner in Washington next Thursday where former senator Mr George Mitchell will be honoured, and the Person of the Year awards reception in New York sponsored by Irish America magazine on Friday.
Mr Hume will be the keynote speaker at the New York function at which Senator Ted Kennedy will receive the top award. Mr Hume will emphasise that Northern Ireland continues to be an attractive investment option for US companies.
Next Sunday, the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, flies into Washington where he will present the traditional bowl of shamrock to Mr Clinton on St Patrick's morning and will also have a discussion on the peace process.
In the afternoon, Mr Clinton will host a reception for the Taoiseach and visiting politicians from Northern Ireland. The next day Mr Bruton will attend the Speaker's lunch on Capitol Hill before travelling to North Carolina and Georgia to meet potential US investors in Ireland.