US President Joe Biden has accepted an invitation to address the Houses of the Oireachtas next Thursday.
TDs and Senators have been emailed by the Ceann Comhairle and Cathaoirleach of the Seanad asking them to “note this date for diary purposes”.
*checks diary….. pic.twitter.com/Bz3ARwdFYN
— Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (@AodhanORiordain) April 5, 2023
Previously, Bill Clinton and JFK have addressed the Oireachtas and the honour is rarely granted; only 23 other addresses have been made - the most recent was European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
President Biden will arrive in Northern Ireland on April 11th to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and travel south after two days.
In Mayo he will “deliver an address to celebrate the deep, historic ties that link our countries and people”.
He will also visit his ancestors’ native County Louth.
'Never been stronger'
At a press conference with journalists, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the relationship between Ireland and the United States has "never been stronger nor closer".
"We enjoy a dynamic economic partnership - which very much goes in both directions," he said.
"And we share important values - not least a commitment to freedom and democracy in the world."
The Cost of Biden?
My colleague @SeanDefoe asks the Taoiseach how much will the Biden visit cost the state.
The second question is if the Secret Service is allowed bring firearms into Ireland: pic.twitter.com/nAKcxojhk6— Tom Douglas (@TomDouglas95) April 5, 2023
He added that the full cost of the President's visit to Ireland would likely only be known at the end of the visit.
"It's mainly related to security, so we're going to be using public buildings," he said.
"It is a requirement that there be significant security around the visit of a US President for very obvious reasons; they bring some of that with them but some of that we have to provide as well."
Main image: Joe Biden in Ireland.
