Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern will discuss the Northern peace process and the undocumented Irish in the United States with a group of congressmen today.
Mr Ahern will meet Republican congressmen Jim Walsh of New York, Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania, and Democrat Brian Higgins from New York.
Speaking on RTÉ radio this morning, the Minisiter said that US inclusion within the peace process remains a "crucial for influence in unionist and loyalist communities" to re-establish the power-sharing Assembly.
Mr Walsh, chairman of the Friends of Ireland on Capitol Hill in Washington, said the purpose of the visit was to "help to create some momentum" and play an unobtrusive but constructive role before the next report from the Independent Monitoring Commission, expected early in February.
Mr Ahern also said strong US opposition to "'permanent residency" in the United States was against the proposed McCain-Kennedy Bill, which would allow undocumented immigrants obtain temporary working visas for six years.
"Unless the possibility of a person getting permanent residency exists there is no incentive to come forward for fear of being put on the system", Mr Ahern said.
"It is crucial to continue lobbying as I feel it will slip off the agenda with the impending mid-term election."
The Minster has appointed Minster of State, Noel Treacy to continue lobbying for undocumented Irish in the United States as Mr Ahern will be engaged with the peace process in the coming months.
The 90-minute meeting will take place in Carlingford, near the shores of Carlingford Lough, today.