The Taoiseach has had his first phone call with Joe Biden, and has invited the US president elect to visit Ireland again.
Micheál Martin said he had a 'warm and engaging' call with Mr Biden, and that he congratulated the Democrat and vice president elect Kamala Harris on the 'historic nature' of their election.
... for example, the Paris Accord and the WHO. I congratulated him on the historic nature of his election and that of @KamalaHarris and we agreed to work closely together. I also invited him and @DrBiden to come back to Ireland when we will properly mark their success 🇮🇪🇺🇸
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) November 10, 2020
In a statement, the Government said: "An Taoiseach congratulated President-elect Biden and Kamala Harris on their remarkable election victory.
"The President-elect reaffirmed his full support for the Good Friday Agreement and they discussed the importance of a Brexit outcome that respects the GFA and ensures no return of a border on the island of Ireland."
Mr Biden previously visited Ireland during his time as Barack Obama's vice president.
The evening's phone call followed confusion earlier in the day over a hastily-deleted tweet from the Taoiseach.
It said that he had a good conversation with the Democrat - but a Government spokesperson confirmed it was sent in error, and that Mr Martin had not yet spoken with Mr Biden when it was sent.
President elect
Joe Biden has been calling other world leaders after winning the US election, speaking to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier today.
In the Dáil this afternoon, Taoiseach Micheál Martin welcomed Mr Biden's election.
He said: "It's fair to say, I think, [he'll be] the most Irish of [US] presidents since John F Kennedy.
"During the campaign, he did nail his colours to the mast in terms of his absolute commitment to the Good Friday Agreement... and to his resistance to any measures or mechanisms or developments that would undermine the agreement or peace on the island of Ireland."
It comes as President Donald Trump today continues to insist he will win the election, based on his unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud and illegal voting.
Mr Trump has refused to concede the election, despite preliminary results showing Biden comfortably securing the 270 electoral college votes necessary to win the election.
All major US media outlets have called the election for Mr Biden, who is also on track to win in several states where counting of votes has not yet been completed.
