This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-64986566
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
St Patrick's Day: Varadkar meets Biden at White House | |
(32 minutes later) | |
President Joe Biden is hosting Taoiseach (Irish PM) Leo Varadkar at the White House | |
Joe Biden says he will visit Ireland 'soon' | |
Joe Biden says he will visit Ireland 'soon' | |
President Biden has said he will make a visit to the island of Ireland "soon". | President Biden has said he will make a visit to the island of Ireland "soon". |
He is hosting Taoiseach (Irish PM) Leo Varadkar at the White House as part of events to mark St Patrick's Day. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. | 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. |
Political leaders from the island of Ireland are in Washington for St Patrick's Day | |
Mr Varadkar said he appreciated the "support and understanding" from the US over Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol in recent years. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | It all followed a familiar script. |
Warm words about a warm friendship complete with log fire and shamrock bowl. | 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. | 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. | 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". | When are you coming to Ireland Mr President? He smiled and said "soon". |
Both leaders were well warned to give nothing away. | Both leaders were well warned to give nothing away. |
Details of the presidential trip may emerge later or maybe not. | Details of the presidential trip may emerge later or maybe not. |
Northern Ireland political leaders are expected to meet Mr Biden 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. |
Mr Varadkar performed 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. |
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 spokesman | Leo 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? |
There has been speculation for some time that Mr Biden will 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. |
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 House | There 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 Topics | Related Topics |
Leo Varadkar | Leo Varadkar |
Nancy Pelosi | Nancy Pelosi |
Joe Biden | Joe Biden |