"Irish Times:"....Bill Fundraising for Hillary in Ireland...Uses Irish/US Lawyer as $$$$ Bagman

[KoKo]

Clinton fundraising in Dublin

Former US president Bill Clinton will touch down in Dublin today for a fund-raising mission to support his wife's bid for presidency.

Mr Clinton will also hold talks with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern during his time in the capital.

The pair are due to meet at Government Buildings tonight to discuss the remarkable transformation in politics in Northern Ireland and on the island.

"The Taoiseach will take the opportunity to update President Clinton on developments in Northern Ireland since the restoration of devolved government in May," said a government spokesman.

"With all of the democratic institutions fully operational - the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive, the North/South Ministerial Council and the British Irish Council - as the people intended when they voted overwhelmingly for the Belfast Agreement in 1998.

"They are now working intensively for the benefit of all of the people in a spirit of co-operation and based firmly on the principles of peace and democracy."

The men will also discuss the progress made under the Ireland-Clinton Foundation HIV and Aids Partnership and the work being done particularly in Mozambique and Lesotho.

After the meeting, Mr Clinton will attend a private fundraising event Ballsbridge, in Dublin's leafy Embassy district, for his wife Hillary's presidential campaign.

More than 100 people are expected at the €1,500-a-head function, which will be held in the spacious Raglan Road home of Dublin lawyer Brian Farren, a member of the bar of the US Supreme Court.

Under Irish law, donations to a US political campaign can only be made by US citizens or Green Card holders.

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2007/1117/breaking14.htm