Ambassador Bruton:

As I stated in response to a different question from Senator Finucane, an opportunity may have arisen to act on immigration. President Bush is anxious to regularise the situation of many Latin-American and Mexican immigrants, particularly in Texas, who want to become citizens. This may be of help to other undocumented groups, such as the Irish. A great deal of work remains to be done. It is not an issue in which I am directly involved. The Irish ambassador, Noel Fahey, is the "go to man" as they say in the US on this subject. Phrases such as "go to guy" and "heads up" are used.

Ambassador Bruton:

Like every country, the United States has an ambiguous attitude toward the United Nations. When the United Nations supports what one does, one is all for it but it is different when it takes another view. In general, the United States is a supporter of the UN. It has paid its dues in recent times. I believe the US Administration considers it owes it to the UN to state what it honestly believes, even if some members do not want to hear those views. However, room for improvement exists.

Ambassador Bruton:

The Middle East peace process is the largest problem facing the world in political terms. Apart from the relationship between the United States and Israel, it causes difficulty to other relationships in that part of the world, such as the relationship between the western world and the former Ottoman empire. In this country in particular, people have an attachment to land and one can state one's grandfather owned a particular piece of land 150 years ago but does not own it now. People here have an understanding of the feelings of many Palestinians about what happened to them or what they did in 1948, depending on one's version of history. It is important this is understood. It is obviously not possible for everybody to return to where they came from but there is a need to have a clear boundary and a recognition of people's sense of having lost something, and to provide some form of recompense. The solution to the conflict is clear to everybody. It was set out at Taba, Camp David and elsewhere. It is simply a question of assembling the political will to achieve it, which is where leadership from outside is probably crucial.

Ambassador Bruton:

It is important to note that the first US President to recognise that the Palestinians have a right to a state of their own is President George W. Bush. One might say he could have gone further than he has in following up this but he is the first President to have recognised it. I draw some sustenance from that.

Ambassador Bruton:

It is a very important issue. It is the key to the range of other issues to which I referred in what I called this arc of opportunity stretching right across the Middle East.