NI leaders in US for St Patrick's week meetings

Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness with US Economic Envoy Declan Kelly in front of the Hancock Tower, Chicago.

The first and deputy first ministers are in the United States for the start of week long St Patrick's Day celebrations.

Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness will be joined by SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie and the Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey.

They are due to meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the State Department.

Later, they will attend an American-Ireland Fund dinner.

Speaking before he left on Saturday, Mr McGuinness said he was confident "jobs would flow" to Northern Ireland as a result of the US visit.

Jobs

"Over the course of next week's trip, our comprehensive programme will see us meet with a wide range of potential investors and political leaders," Mr McGuinness said.

"We shall spend our time promoting and selling the benefits of investing in the north.

"I have no doubt that, as with previous trips, this trip will lead to investment and the creation of jobs in the future."

SDLP leader Ms Ritchie said she would have "no qualms telling Irish America that while devolution is up, it is not up and running".

"We will tell them that it is time for the process politics to end and the progressive politics to begin," she said.

"This will only happen by sticking to the power sharing spirit of the (Good Friday) Agreement."