Assembly Speech

After a super running effort on my part from press to the back of motorcade, I have eventually made it to the Assembly. I didn't have to sign in and no need for a pass. Yeah! I could get used to this.

First time in the Press Gallery and for the 10th time have been told to switch off my mobile phone. Yes, I have been in the building once or twice.

The public gallery was packed with former politicians, like John Hume, and dignitaries such as Matt Baggott, the new Chief Constable of the PSNI. Oh and Stephen Warke everybody!!!

The speech was reasonably predictable - congratulating the parties on how far they have come, and the important leadership they can provide to the people of Northern Ireland. It was speculated in some circles that the Secretary of State would try and push our First and Deputy First Ministers to do the deal on policing and justice.

The Secretary looked in the general direction of the DUP benches and stated that the USA was not here to 'meddle' on this issue. Then looking towards the Sinn Fein benches she stated that the US would encourage all political parties to do the deal on policing and justice and to complete the devolution process.

Then the Secretary encouraged the politicians to work together to solve the economic challenges facing Northern Ireland. This would be supported by the new Special Economic Envoy, Declan Kelly.

Now we are being whisked off to Queens for a business session which is going to be closed...boooo! Eye Spy will try and find out more!

Stormont Castle

It is a beautiful October morning in Belfast. The normal hussle and bustle of rush hour traffic has been held up by the motorcade of the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. We are off to Stormont Castle for the first meetings of the day.

At the Castle the Secretary will be having private meetings with the First and Deputy First Minsters. High on the agenda will be political issues (despite efforts to make this day about the economy)with policing and justice being top of the agenda. A letter is expected to be sent from 10 Downing Street to OFMDFM to confirm the budget for policing and justice.

Then it is off next door to Parliament Buildings to give an historic speech before a full Assembly.

Day 2 Clinton

Early start this morning after the excitement of yesterday. It was very cool waiting on the tarmac as the Secretary of State came down the steps. Then it was a fast run to the hotel and help settle press corps in. Ended up having a long chat with State Department officials on Northern Ireland issues.

Today will be a lot busier and very fast moving.

Looking forward to hearing remarks at the NI Assembly later.

Should be on Good Morning Ulster at around 7.50am

Purpose of the Clinton Visit

Now that we have a few minutes where nothing is happening (and the Close Protection Unit have supplied coffee!) I can get a chance to have a think about why this is all happening. Why is the second most powerful politician in the world coming to 'our wee country'?

It is a case that the Clinton's have developed over the years a very close affinity with the people of this island and a genuine concern for its future. The focus of the future is principally economic as opposed to purely political.

Northern Ireland is also seen as a success story in terms of peace processes. (Today the INLA said that it would decommission weapons) Wouldn't it be a great legacy to Northern Ireland and a big thank you to those countries like the United States, who have helped us, if one of our major exports was a guide to resolving conflict?

The US Secretary of State recently appointed Declan Kelly as the new Special Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland. His aim is to quickly get positive economic results for both NI and the USA. We need to take full advantage of this great, and possibly temporary, opportunity to be a centrepiece of foreign policy for the USA.

This important visit will naturally act as a stimulus for our politicians to see the bigger picture and focus on issues that genuinely matter to people.

I do get a sense that our luck will eventually run out and that other areas from around the world will become the focus of attention.

Policing and Justice has been the major distraction here for weeks, months or even years and it now needs to be sorted so that the economy can have the full and undivided attention of our politicians.

This visit is our opportunity to shine on the world stage, so let us show the world that Northern Ireland is open for business.

Motorcade

We have finally started moving again. This time we are at the back of a ten vehicle motorcade with various police cars and about 10 outriders who are going ahead to stop traffic and push us through redlights.

Bit of a surreal experience with the public looking in trying to figure out who is in the cars - no one at this stage. Big temptation to wave and pretend to be someone famous. So did anyone give in to this temptation? As the saying goes "What happens on the motorcade stays on the motorcade!"

Another security check with dogs...nothing found so we are now, yes you guessed it, waiting again and swapping stories of other visits that people have been involved in.

As you might expect it is a very well organised and detailed visit, but the number and types of people involved is staggering. It makes me wonder what previous Presidential visits were like or what an Obama visit might be like.

First Impressions

First impressions might be a little surprising for those of us who do not normally join motorcades for senior world leaders.

There is an awful lot of waiting around, looking at watches and in this case looking at US Secret Service officers checking, checking and checking. So for a while I am a political tourist watching others do their work.

Watching some people working to try and satisfy the media demands from local, national and international press.

There are moments of excitement when the motorcade starts coming together, specific jobs are handed out and things start moving.

Recommendations so far are- get sleep before the big day, wear comfortable shoes, bring some sweets and a flask of coffee (just in case our friends at the PSNI forgets the coffee!!! which is fine honestly...no, no absolutely fine.)

Anyway hope to have some more things to say in a while.

Day 1 Clinton Visit

Well it is the start of a very exciting and interesting 24 hours accompanying Secretary of State Clinton on her visit to NI.

So, suited and booted, I received my first crucial mission - to get drinkies for the press corps. Mission is accomplished with the aid of my beautiful assistant(wife) Ursula. So I hope they like the black stuff!!

Wheels up so the Secretary is on her way to a sunny NI. Off to get security checked and then picked up.

Clinton visit to Northern Ireland

I have been lucky enough to be chosen as the local blogger attached to the State Department for the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Northern Ireland.

Received the briefing today and I will be travelling in the motorcade and accompanying the team to most of the meetings.

I will try to give an impression of what it is to be an observer of this kind of visit. There are many better people to give impressions of policy implications, but I will have a go at that as well.

It is quite humbling to not only be considered but accepted to do this kind of thing. The West Wing fan inside of me has been going mad for a while until final confirmation yesterday!

I will be joining officials from the State Department and journalists from AP; Reuters; AFP; New York Times; Washington Post; Bloomberg; BBC; Wall Street Journal; CNN and ABC. So really looking forward to meeting them and learning from their experiences.

Anyway, I will be doing a mixture of live and after blogging and will try and post on twitter - as much as I am allowed.

Thank you to all who arranged this and I hope you enjoy the results!!!