American visit dominates landscape

By Jim Fitzpatrick Politics Show

If you've ever travelled to the United States, you'll be aware of the strict passport controls.

Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness heading to Washington

If you're travelling on a British or Irish passport you usually don't need a visa, but instead fill in a "visa waiver application form".

It's a long green card they hand out on the plane with questions on both sides.

For the sake of this week's important joint visit by our First and Deputy First Ministers to New York and Washington, I really hope they've read the form.

Under the section headed "Do any of the following apply to you?" there are seven key questions.

If you have to answer "yes" to any, you don't get in unless you've sorted a visa separately.

So, as I've said, for the sake of the visit I really hope Messrs Paisley and McGuinness aren't ticking boxes on a green form in business class as their plane descends towards JFK this weekend.

Question C: Have you ever been or are you now involved in espionage or sabotage; or in terrorist activities¿?

Having admitted an IRA past to The Saville Inquiry, Martin McGuinness would be obliged to tick "yes" to that one.

But, before Ian Paisley allows himself a hearty chuckle at his deputy's expense he'll no doubt want to be sure that he's not in trouble too.

Question B relates to prior convictions, but The First Minister's are minor enough not to qualify - phew - but what's this?

Even Senator Ted Kennedy experienced flight problems

Question F: Have you ever been denied a US visa or entry into the US or had a US visa cancelled?

Ian Paisley had a US visa cancelled in 1981 because of what the State Department at the time called his "divisive" rhetoric. So that's another "yes" box ticked

I'm sure the jovial couple could try and sweet-talk their way through customs but this arm of American bureaucracy isn't renowned for its flexibility.

Senator Ted Kennedy was banned from flying on five separate occasions in the aftermath of September 11 because a terrorist suspect had previously used the alias "T Kennedy".

And a plane carrying rock star turned peace activist Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) was forced to land in an emergency while he was detained because his Muslim name was a bit like another one on the "no-fly list".

Jim

PS - An appreciation of Peter Robinson courtesy of Alliance Councillor Geraldine Rice as reported in Friday's Irish News: "There's a human side to him that people don't often see."