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US president Joe Biden said he hoped Northern Ireland’s devolved power-sharing government could be restored soon, as he delivered a landmark address during his historic four-day visit to Belfast.
“An effective devolved government that reflects the people of Northern Ireland and is accountable to them, a government that works to find ways through hard problems together is going to draw even greater opportunity to this region.
“So I hope the assembly and the executive will soon be restored. That’s a judgement for you to make, not me, but I hope it happens.”
But the DUP immediately rejected the call for power-sharing to be resumed, as party leader Jeffrey Donaldson said it did not change the political dynamic.
Earlier, he met Rishi Sunak in Belfast. Mr Biden, who has Irish ancestry, is in Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
However, he came under fire from the DUP’s Sammy Wilson, who told Talk TV the president had a record of being “pro-republican, anti-unionist, anti-British.”
The White House insisted Mr Biden was not anti-British.
Joe Biden appears to confuse the All Blacks with the Black and Tans in pub speech
Joe Biden appeared to confuse the All Blacks and the Black and Tans, during a speech at a pub in Ireland.
The US president, paying tribute to relative and former Irish rugby player Rob Kearney, thanked him for the tie he was wearing and referenced a 2016 match at Soldier Field in Chicago against the New Zealand team.
He said: “This was given to me by one of these guys, right here, was a hell of a rugby player. He beat the hell out of the Black and Tans.”
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America’s true special relationship isn’t with the UK | Voices
Skylar Baker-Jordan’s take on America’s deep connection with Ireland:
There is nowhere in the world Joe Biden should be today but Belfast.
A proud descendant of Irish immigrants, the President of the United States of America is today in Northern Ireland commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. It makes sense; the Americans were intrinsically involved in negotiating the deal which ended three decades of sectarian violence between the Protestant Unionists and Catholic Nationalists. The Good Friday Agreement stands as a triumph of American diplomacy and a global blueprint for ending civil conflict.
Read the full piece here:
America’s true special relationship isn’t with the UK
While we often talk about the ‘Special Relationship’ between the US and the UK, that relationship exists mostly at the government level. In the hearts and minds of the American people, however, the true special relationship is with Ireland
Security document for US president Joe Biden’s Irish visit ‘found lying in Belfast street’
Police have launched an investigation after a sensitive document on security for Joe Biden’s Northern Ireland visit was found lying in a Belfast street.
The US president landed in County Antrim on Tuesday night for a four-day trip around Ireland, leading Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) to launch a huge security operation to accommodate him.
On Wednesday, PSNI said it was aware of a “security breach” after the BBC reported that a member of the public had found a document marked with the force’s header detailing how officers would secure inner Belfast while Mr Biden stayed overnight at the Grand Central hotel.
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PSNI wants its money back for Biden protection
The PSNI will seek to recover some of the £7m cost of security measures around commemorations of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, a senior officer has said.
A major policing operation in Belfast has now ended after US president Joe Biden left Northern Ireland following a speech at Ulster University.
The PSNI said that 2,920 of its officers had been involved in the operation to assist with Mr Biden‘s visit, including frontline officers, security detail and close protection. Some 300 police officers were drafted in from elsewhere in the UK for the operation.
It was the largest police operation in Northern Ireland since the G8 summit was held in County Fermanagh in 2013.
Assistant Chief Constable Chris Todd said: “This has been a complex and expensive operation delivered to internationally recognised standards and at present we anticipate the overall cost for the two week operation will be somewhere in the region of £7,, however that is an early estimate and is subject to change.
“The Police Service of Northern Ireland will seek to recover what costs we can, under relevant established arrangements, once the operation has concluded and full details are known.”
Police officers guard the entrance to the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast
White House read-out of Biden-Sunak meeting
The White House has released a statement on the meeting between Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak earlier:
“President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom in Belfast. The leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, marking the 25th anniversary of a landmark agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland. They also welcomed the Windsor Framework as an important step in preserving that peace and progress. In addition, the leaders exchanged views on a range of global issues, including their continued support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression.”
After the meeting, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: “They agreed that manipulation of global markets by authoritarian leaders demonstrates, more than ever, the need for like-minded partners to work together to support the economic health and security of our nations.
“The leaders said that the thriving trade relationship between the UK and US demonstrates we are doing just that.”
Sunak and Biden in Belfast’s Grand Central Hotel this morning
Biden appears to confuse All Blacks with Black and Tans
Joe Biden appeared to confuse the All Blacks and the Black and Tans, during remarks in Louth.
The US President, paying tribute to relative and former Irish rugby player Rob Kearney, thanked him for the tie he was wearing and referenced the match at Soldier Field in Chicago against the New Zealand team.
“This was given to me by one of these guys, right here, was a hell of a rugby player.
“He beat the hell out of the Black and Tans.”
The Black and Tans were hastily recruited British troops stationed against the rebels in the Irish war of independence, so named for their uniforms, which featured ill-matched black and khaki items due to a shortage.
Biden on charm offensive in ancestral home
Visiting the home of his ancestors, Joe Biden received a hero’s welcome.
County Louth’s most famous descendant declared, “I don’t know why the hell my ancestors left here. It’s beautiful.”
The president walked along a street of shops and restaurants in Dundalk, shaking hands, posing for photos and greeting local people who are proud that he shares their Irish heritage.
Biden and Irish deputy prime minister Micheal Martin (L) visit Carlingford Castle earlier
Biden walks in Dundalk among crowds
People line the streets as Biden tours Dundalk
Bad weather blocks Biden from reconnecting with roots
Joe Biden will no longer visit Kilwirra Cemetery in County Louth, where his ancestors are buried, due to the wet weather in Ireland.
The president was also due to travel by helicopter from Dublin to Cooley Kickhams Gaelic Football Club, Co Louth, but the plan was scrapped due to the weather.
Kilwirra cemetery and the church ruins yesterday, ahead of Biden’s visit to the area
Biden arrives in Irish ancestral home
US President Joe Biden has arrived in Carlingford, County Louth for the second stop on his visit to the Republic of Ireland, where his relatives are buried.
Local people turned out in numbers on motorway overpasses as well as lining road sides approaching the town despite heavy rain in an area Mr Biden has traced ancestral roots to.
There were cheers as the president’s distinctive car passed.
Mr Biden had been due to fly by helicopter from Dublin to Co Louth, but plans were changed to motorcade due to the weather conditions.
Some of the well wishers are holding US or Irish flags, and a poster reads “Welcome home cousin Joe”.
Members of the public gather in Carlingford
Biden tells child ‘key to success'
Joe Biden shared his “key to success” with a child as he left Dublin airport.
Before heading into the Irish capital, the president met embassy staff and their children and thanked them for their service.
One child asked Mr Biden what they key to success was, to which he replied: “The key to success is, whenever you disagree with someone, it’s OK to question their judgment on whether they’re right or wrong, but it is never OK to question their motive.”
“If you question their motive, you’ll never agree,” the president added.
Biden leaves Dublin Airport
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2023-04-13 00:00:00Z
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