US envoy to Ireland to be announced

The White House is expected to mark St Patrick's Day on 17 March by announcing the US envoy to Ireland, Downing Street hinted yesterday, writes Colin Brown. The Prime Minister is believed to have signalled his acceptance of Tom Foley, Speaker of the House of Representatives, who supports the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

In spite of the furore already caused among the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist MPs, ministers believe Mr Foley will not be opposed by James Molyneaux's Ulster Unionists, providing his visit is seen as a 'fact finding' mission and not a peace envoy engaged in arbitration.