In a historic speech to the Irish parliament, Joe Biden stated that the UK and Ireland “should be working closer” to protect Northern Ireland against political violence.
The president delivered speeches to both the Dail and Seanad, making him just the fourth US president to do so.
He addressed at a joint session of the Oireachtas, following in the footsteps of John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton.
Senators and TDs were reminded by Mr. Biden that “peace is precious” and “it still needs its champions.” It still requires nurturing.
According to him, the Good Friday Agreement also had a “significant positive impact” in the Republic of Ireland.
Reflecting on discussions with the Taoiseach, he spoke of ‘how Ireland and the United States can work together with the United Kingdom and the European Union to support the people of Northern Ireland’.
‘I think that the United Kingdom should be working closer with Ireland in this endeavour.
‘Political violence must never be allowed again to take hold on this island.’
He called for ‘liberty against tyranny’ as she said Ireland and the US have stood together against Putin since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, and added that they would fight to ‘oppose Russia’s brutal aggression.’
He opened his address to a joint sitting of by saying: ‘Well mom, you said it would happen.’
He went on to jokingly apologise to the infant daughter of Labour senator Rebecca Moynihan, who was in the chamber, for putting her through a policy speech, saying it is ‘as bad as what my children have been put through’.
‘People of Ireland, it’s so good to be back in Ireland,’ he said, making a remark in Irish which translates as: ‘I am home.’
He added: ‘I only wish I could stay longer.’
Among the members inside the house were Bertie Ahern, who brokered the Good Friday Agreement with Tony Blair in 1998.
A more controversial figure in attendance was Gerry Adams, an Irish republican politician who was the president of Sinn Féin from 1983-2018.
He was part of the broadcast ban in 1983-84 after the IRA bombed a Brighton hotel where Margaret Thatcher was staying in 1983.
The speaker of the Dail, Sean O Fearghail, spoke ahead of Joe Biden’s speech and said ‘‘You are one of us,’ thanking the US president for his support of Ireland.
He said: ‘All through your political career, Mr President, you too have been a faithful and supportive friend of Ireland. You have been there, to quote the well-known song, ‘in sunshine or in shadow’.
‘So, on this historic occasion – your homecoming – we warmly welcome you back to your roots.
‘From the bottom of our hearts we thank you for all you have done, and continue to do, for us here in Ireland.’
On the third day of his trip to Ireland, he met with Irish premier Leo Varadkar and president Michael D Higgins.
Speaking with the Taoiseach he hailed the importance of US and European leadership and praised American leadership since the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year.
Mr Varadkar said he wanted to ‘thank you and your administration and your country’s leadership when it comes to Ukraine because I never thought in my lifetime that we’d see a war of this nature happening in Europe again’.
He said: ‘Democracy and liberty and the things that we believe in are on retreat, or in retreat, in large parts of the world, and if it wasn’t for American leadership, and if it wasn’t for America and Europe working together, I don’t know what kind of world we’d live in.’
Mr Biden, who met with the Irish leader in Washington on St Patrick’s Day, praised Irish values and the country’s acceptance of thousands of Ukrainian refugees as he spoke of a ‘stronger and stronger relationship’ between the US and Ireland.
The pair are set to discuss efforts to restore powersharing in Northern Ireland, with Mr Varadkar thanking Mr Biden for US support for the Good Friday Agreement.
Mr Biden told Mr Varadkar it had been great to see him in Washington last month, and said: ‘I think there really is an opportunity to make serious progress, not just because of the accord that was signed 25 years ago, but in terms of the way Ireland is moving, the way it is taking its place in the world, working on helping countries around the world that are dealing with starvation, the way you’ve – I know it’s not easy – welcomed Ukrainians here and the leadership you’ve shown.’
Speaking to Mr Varadkar, the US President appeared to reference the progress made in securing the Windsor Framework – the deal between the EU and UK to amend the Northern Ireland Protocol – as he spoke of co-operation between the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as ‘very valuable as well’.
This morning President Biden took part in several honorary ceremonies including helping plant a tree in the garden of Aras an Uachtarain.
He also signed the visitor’s book at the home of the Irish President with the words of a proverb and said ‘Your feet will bring you where your heart is’.
He took a shovel to help plant an Irish Oak, and added himself to the list of presidents who have all planted trees in the grounds.
Pope John Paul II and the late Queen Elizabeth II have also carried out the tradition on previous visits.
Speaking to president Michael D Higgins, Mr Biden said: ‘Mr president, I asked whether or not my great-grandchildren can come back and climb this tree when it grows?’
The ceremony also saw the US president ring the Peace Bell, which was unveiled in 2008 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
Mr Biden rang it four times before shaking hands with the Irish President.
He said one ring was for Ireland, one was for the USA, another was for ancestry and a fourth was for peace.
Mr Biden is expected to set out a ‘shared vision’ for the future of US-Irish relations when he addresses both houses of the Oireachtas.
Mr Biden, who was joined by an official delegation that included the US secretary of state Antony Blinken, was met with cheers from onlookers as his motorcade entered the park.
Arriving at Aras an Uachtarain Mr Biden emerged wearing sunglasses and a broad smile as he walked the red carpet to be met by Mr Higgins and his wife Sabina.
‘It’s a pleasure to be back’, Mr Biden told Mr Higgins.
After signing the visitor’s book in the historic State Reception Room, Mr Biden quipped ‘I’m not going home. Isn’t this an incredible place? All you American reporters, it’s just like the White House, right?’
A military band played the American national anthem as Mr Biden stood outside with his right hand on his heart.
After listening to the Irish national anthem, the president inspected a guard of honour before being introduced to Irish dignitaries.
At Farmleigh he was also invited to watch a sports demonstration by young Gaelic games players.
The White House said Northern Ireland and Ukraine would top the agenda as Mr Biden met with Mr Higgins and Mr Varadkar.
US National Security Council senior director Amanda Sloat told reporters that his Oireachtas address will refer to areas of close partnership between both countries and ‘setting out a shared vision for the future’.
Mr Biden will be accompanied to the Irish Parliament by Marie Heaney, the widow of his favourite poet, Seamus Heaney.
Mr Biden, who is on a four-day trip to the island, will attend a banquet in his honour at Dublin Castle hosted by Taoiseach Mr Varadkar this evening.
His first full day of engagements on Wednesday began in Northern Ireland, where he delivered a keynote address in Belfast.
In his speech to Ulster University, Mr Biden expressed the hope of a return to powersharing at Stormont, saying a stable devolved government could deliver an economic windfall for the region.
His visit north of the border came as the region marks the 25th anniversary of the landmark Good Friday peace accord.
After his address in Belfast, Mr Biden travelled to Dublin and from there to Co Louth, where he can trace some of his Irish ancestors.
In a speech at a pub in Dundalk, he described how he felt as though he had come home.
His remarks also included a gaffe when he appeared to confuse the All Blacks rugby team with the Black and Tans, a contentious police unit from Ireland’s War of Independence era.
Asked about that gaffe, Ms Sloat said: ‘It was clear what the president was referring to, it was certainly clear to his cousins setting next to him.’