The British government has not yet made a decision on whether to seek the extradition of the Sinn Fein press officer, Ms Rita O'Hare, when she arrives in Washington to head the party's information office.
The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, told reporters here last March that Ms O'Hare would be replacing the present head of the office, Ms Mairead Keane. But Ms O'Hare has not yet applied for a US working visa.
A British Embassy spokesman told The Irish Times that there was an arrest warrant outstanding against Ms O'Hare for alleged offences in Northern Ireland. He said the lifting of the warrant would require a court order and action by the government. It was aware that Ms O'Hare's appointment to the Washington office was a possibility and "we are still considering how we would respond if that possibility becomes a firm announcement", he said.
US sources said that "technically Rita O'Hare is a fugitive from justice in Northern Ireland where there are outstanding indictments for which she has never stood trial".
Ms O'Hare has not yet applied for a working visa from the US authorities although they have been informed that she intends to do so. Because she has been convicted in the Republic of what the US regards as a terrorist offence, Ms O'Hare requires a waiver from the Justice Department to be allowed enter the US.
She was given the waiver for the two short visits she has made to the US in recent months. But to obtain a permanent visa, she will first have to petition the Immigration and Naturalisation Service setting out her professional qualifications.
The US authorities are believed to be ready to grant a working visa to Ms O'Hare but they want to be sure that the British government will not then seek her extradition. Consultations are taking place between London and Washington on this matter, an embassy spokesman said.
He pointed out that no action had been taken during her recent visits. However, she was not invited to the British Embassy along with Mr Adams for the St Patrick's Day lunch.
There could be a bureaucratic battle behind the scenes over Ms O'Hare's visa as happened with the one for Mr Adams in 1994 before the IRA ceasefire. The White House and State Department would probably support Ms O'Hare while some Justice Department officials would argue against it as long as her arrest warrant was still outstanding.
The feeling in Washington is that in view of the changed situation in Northern Ireland following the Belfast Agreement, a way will be found to allow Ms O'Hare take up her new position.