The Taoiseach suggested that President Clinton might visit Ireland after the referendums on the Northern Ireland Agreement. Mr Ahern said he believed that if there was a general agreement among the parties, the Mr Clinton should come during the referendum campaigns. The issue, he added, was whether the visit at that time could create disharmony in Northern Ireland. The leader of the UUP, Mr David Trimble, and some others had expressed the view that it might have that effect, he added.

A view had also been expressed that the right time to come would be after the referendums and before the campaign for the Assembly elections. Mr Bruton suggested that that would be a better time for Mr Clinton's visit. "The most important of all of the elections, in practical terms, would be the Assembly election. If you do not get a majority of people in both communities elected to the Assembly who are willing to make the agreement work, then it will not work."