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St Patrick's Day: NI party leaders to attend White House reception St Patrick's Day: Varadkar meets with Biden at White House
(40 minutes later)
The White House reception is the highlight of a week of events for St Patrick's Day in Washington DC President Joe Biden is hosting the taoiseach at the White House
Stormont's five main party leaders are due to attend the annual St Patrick's Day reception in the White House. President Biden has said he will make a visit to the island of Ireland "soon".
They are expected to meet US President Joe Biden after attending the House Speaker's lunch on Capitol Hill. He is hosting Taoiseach (Irish PM) Leo Varadkar at the White House as part of events to mark St Patrick's Day.
He is also set to meet the leaders of the five main Stormont parties later on Friday.
However, he has yet to confirm if he will visit Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement next month.
He ignored most questions from reporters during a press conference in the Oval Office but when asked about a visit to Ireland he said it would happen "soon".
He said that he reaffirmed his administration's support for the Good Friday Agreement.
On Sunday PM Rishi Sunak said he had extended an invite to the president to visit Northern Ireland to take part in events relating to the peace deal.
Mr Varadkar said he appreciated the "support and understanding" from the US over Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol in recent years.
Both leaders also thanked each other for co-operation in relation to the war in Ukraine.
Traditionally US presidents make a visit to Ireland halfway through a presidential term.
Mr Biden has made much of his Irish roots and it is expected he will make a trip covering Northern Ireland, Dublin and County Mayo, where his ancestors are from.
It all followed a familiar script.
Warm words about a warm friendship complete with log fire and shamrock bowl.
Then a barrage of questions from 50-plus reporters but not one answer.
As we were being rushed out the Oval Office door I tried again.
When are you coming to Ireland Mr President? He smiled and said "soon".
Both leaders were well warned to give nothing away.
Details of the presidential trip may emerge later or maybe not.
Northern Ireland political leaders are expected to meet Mr Biden later on Friday, after attending the House Speaker's lunch on Capitol Hill.
Senior business figures from Northern Ireland have also been invited to attend the White House reception.Senior business figures from Northern Ireland have also been invited to attend the White House reception.
Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar will perform the traditional handing over of a bowl of shamrock to the president in the Oval Office. Mr Varadkar performed the traditional handing over of a bowl of shamrock to the president in the Oval Office.
Mr Varadkar and Northern Ireland's political leaders have been in Washington DC for much of this week for a series of events ahead of St Patrick's Day.
On Thursday night the taoiseach apologised for an "ill-judged" remark that was seen as a reference to the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, made during a speech in the city.On Thursday night the taoiseach apologised for an "ill-judged" remark that was seen as a reference to the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, made during a speech in the city.
Monica Lewinsky was a young White House intern when she and the then-US President Bill Clinton embarked on an affair in the 1990s.Monica Lewinsky was a young White House intern when she and the then-US President Bill Clinton embarked on an affair in the 1990s.
Leo Varadkar regrets the "intern" remark he made during his speech, says his spokesmanLeo Varadkar regrets the "intern" remark he made during his speech, says his spokesman
The taoiseach was making an address to the Washington Ireland Programme, which helps young people develop career skills.The taoiseach was making an address to the Washington Ireland Programme, which helps young people develop career skills.
He took part in the programme in 2000 and in his speech on Thursday he made reference to possible concern about being an intern at the time in the White House.He took part in the programme in 2000 and in his speech on Thursday he made reference to possible concern about being an intern at the time in the White House.
After the event a spokesperson for Mr Varadkar said "the taoiseach was reminiscing about his time in Washington DC as an intern 23 years ago.After the event a spokesperson for Mr Varadkar said "the taoiseach was reminiscing about his time in Washington DC as an intern 23 years ago.
"He made an ill-judged off the cuff remark which he regrets," said the spokesman."He made an ill-judged off the cuff remark which he regrets," said the spokesman.
"He apologises for any offence caused to anyone concerned.""He apologises for any offence caused to anyone concerned."
Trade deal back on the table?Trade deal back on the table?
Mr Biden is due to make a visit to Northern Ireland next month to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday peace agreement. Mr Biden has widely expected to make a visit to Northern Ireland next month to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday peace agreement.
Former Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi has she hoped that devolved government at Stormont would be up and running again by then.Former Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi has she hoped that devolved government at Stormont would be up and running again by then.
She was speaking after receiving an honorary doctorate from Ulster University at a ceremony in Washington.She was speaking after receiving an honorary doctorate from Ulster University at a ceremony in Washington.
The big story from the White House is already out there.
Joe Biden let slip his plan to visit Ireland north and south earlier this week.
On St Patrick's Day he is likely to confirm it again, only this time in the presence of Leo Varadkar.
We may also get the date of the planned trip next month to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
The White House is still hopeful that the Stormont institutions will be fully restored by the time Mr Biden arrives in Belfast.
He had hoped to address MLAs in a special sitting of the assembly but that may still go ahead regardless.
But expect the president to drive home the need to restore power-sharing when he meets the party leaders at the White House.
Last year Ms Pelosi warned the UK government against undermining the Good Friday Agreement through its actions against the post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.Last year Ms Pelosi warned the UK government against undermining the Good Friday Agreement through its actions against the post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland.
She had warned that if that happened there would be no US-UK trade deal.She had warned that if that happened there would be no US-UK trade deal.
There is music and celebration during the traditional St Patrick's Day in the White HouseThere is music and celebration during the traditional St Patrick's Day in the White House
But last month a deal was struck between the UK and the EU on trading arrangements for Northern Ireland.But last month a deal was struck between the UK and the EU on trading arrangements for Northern Ireland.
Ms Pelosi said she "fully supports" that agreement - known as the Windsor Framework - and that it opened up the possibility of a trade deal between the US and the UK.Ms Pelosi said she "fully supports" that agreement - known as the Windsor Framework - and that it opened up the possibility of a trade deal between the US and the UK.
The DUP has been boycotting power-sharing at Stormont over its opposition to the trade arrangements that resulted from the original Brexit deal.The DUP has been boycotting power-sharing at Stormont over its opposition to the trade arrangements that resulted from the original Brexit deal.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar
Nancy PelosiNancy Pelosi
Joe BidenJoe Biden