The US government was tonight urged to close any loophole which would enable Sinn Fein PresidentGerry Adams to raise money at American fundraising events even if he is barred from attending them.
Democratic Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson issued the call amid speculation Mr Adams and other Northern Ireland leaders could be invited to US President George Bush's St Patrick's Day function on March 17th after being frozen out of the event last year.
Sinn Fein spokesman
The Lagan Valley MP also hinted DUP chiefs may not attend this year's celebrations even if they are invited and may instead focus on a visit to the United States in April.
"The US government needs to look at the whole issue of fundraising," Mr Donaldson said. "There is little point in the US administration placing restrictions on Sinn Fein leaders' visas if they can exploit loopholes like Gerry Adams addressing the Friends of Sinn Fein dinner in New York last year by satellite.
"In our view it is highly unfair that Sinn Fein is able to engage in fundraising activity."
Last November, Mr Adams scrapped plans to go to New York after the State Department barred him from raising funds for his party because Sinn Fein will not endorse policing in Northern Ireland. The West Belfast MP instead travelled to Canada and addressed the New York event via a satellite link.
A Sinn Fein spokesman said it would be absurd if the US government were to impose fundraising restrictions on the party leaders' visas when they travel to America for St Patrick's Day celebrations.
He also dismissed claims the relationship between the party and President Bush's special adviser on Northern Ireland, Ambassador Mitchell Reiss, had been strained.
"Any suggestion that our relationship is strained is far off the mark," said the Sinn Fein spokesman. "In fact our last meeting with Mitchell Reiss went well.
"There have been differences of opinion over policing but I think if US officials have been studying the debate at the Sinn Fein ard fheis at the weekend, it was there for all to see how serious an issue this is for republicans.
"As for fundraising, I think it would be absurd for the US to impose restrictions on Gerry (Adams) or Martin (McGuinness) when the British Government have restored Westminster allowances to our MPs.
"We have also shown Sinn Fein will raise funds even if visa restrictions are imposed on our leadership. When restrictions were imposed on Gerry, we raised more than ever before. Restrictions only galvanise our supporters."
Last year Northern Ireland's politicians were frozen out of the White House bash in the wake of the murder of Belfast father-of-two Robert McCartney and the Northern Bank heist.
The US government would not be drawn tonight on speculation about the possibility of an invitation for Mr Adams or visa restrictions.