Wales@Westminster weblog

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Monday 14 March

Every cloud...

posted by David | 1745 GMT |
Here's a silver lining to the cloud of gloom that's recently engulfed Northern Ireland.

Secretary of State Paul Murphy is being honoured for his contribution to the peace process at a special dinner in New York.

Mr Murphy is guest of honour at a dinner organised by Co-operation Ireland, a charity which includes both the Queen and Irish President Mary McAleese as its joint patrons.

The Torfaen MP has had plenty on his plate recently, with devolution put on hold after the IRA were implicated in a multi-million pound bank robbery.

Mr Murphy is spending the week in the United States, where some of the official receptions are taking place without Sinn Fein guests.

Tony Kennedy, Chief Executive of Co-operation Ireland, said: "Co-operation Ireland has a 26 year history and an established record of delivering progressive peace and reconciliation programs at the community level throughout Ireland and in doing so, have done a tremendous job of tackling the lingering issues of intolerance while also shaping a positive vision for the future."