Joe Biden to meet Northern Ireland political leaders tomorrow

Joe Biden to meet all political leaders in Northern Ireland tomorrow to urge restart of power sharing at Stormont during visit to UK and Ireland – as Tony Blair warns him to take ‘care’ not to make the situation worse

• Biden in UK and Ireland on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement 
• Visit comes at a time of political paralysis, with DUP blocking power-sharing

Joe Biden is expected to meet with the leaders of Northern Ireland’s main political parties tomorrow as he seeks to intervene in its stalled political system.

The US president will use a visit to the UK and Ireland on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement to underscore his nation’s ‘commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity’ in Ulster.

His visit comes at a time of political paralysis, with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) blocking the resumption of the power-sharing executive – under a Sinn Fein first minister – over its Brexit complaints.

Mr Biden will touch down in Belfast tonight, to be met by Rishi Sunak, ahead of a speech in the city tomorrow.  

It is expected that the president will hold a meeting with Northern Ireland’s main political parties before a speech at Ulster University.

It came as Tony Blair suggested he tread ‘with care and with sensitivity’ in his efforts to help.

The US president will use a visit to the UK and Ireland on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement to underscore his nation’s ‘commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity’ in Ulster. 

It came as Tony Blair suggested he tread ‘with care and with sensitivity’ in his efforts to help.

The former prime minister, who signed the GFA in 1998, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘There is a difference between influencing and pressurising, and the one tends to be positive, the other can be negative.’

The former prime minister, who signed the GFA in 1998, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:  ‘The Americans can play an important part on this but you have just got to insert them at the right moment and in the right place.

‘There is a difference between influencing and pressurising, and the one tends to be positive, the other can be negative.’

Mr Biden last night tweeted: ’25 years ago, Northern Ireland’s leaders chose peace.

‘The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement ended decades of violence and brought stability.

‘I look forward to marking the anniversary in Belfast, underscoring the U.S. commitment to preserving peace and encouraging prosperity.’

Mr Biden will also travel to the Republic of Ireland, where he will carry out a number of engagements during his four-day stay, including visiting Co Louth and Co Mayo, from where his ancestors hail.

The visit coincides with the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which largely brought an end to the Troubles, in Northern Ireland in 1998.

However, the Stormont powersharing Assembly, which was established in the peace deal, is not currently operating due to a protest over post-Brexit trading arrangements by the DUP, the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland.

A major security operation will be in place for Mr Biden’s visit, with more than 300 officers from the rest of the UK being drafted into Northern Ireland.

The PSNI has also warned of significant traffic disruption in Belfast during the presidential visit, with a number of roads in the city centre already closed.

After he leaves the city on Wednesday, Mr Biden will cross the border to attend engagements in Co Louth.

The president has traced his ancestral roots to the area and he will tour Carlingford Castle in the county before spending the night in Dublin.

He is then expected to visit Irish President Michael D Higgins on Thursday.

It has been announced that Dublin’s Phoenix Park will be closed for 24 hours from 5pm on Wednesday to facilitate the visit.

Mr Higgins’ official residence is within the park’s grounds.

The White House said Mr Biden will take part in a tree-planting ceremony and ringing of the Peace Bell at the president’s official residence, Aras an Uachtarain.

Following that ceremony, he will meet again with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, whom Mr Biden recently hosted for St Patrick’s Day.

Mr Biden will address the Irish parliament and attend a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle on Thursday evening.

The president’s trip will conclude with a visit to Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins, on Friday.

He will tour the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock and visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centre’s family history research unit.

He will then make a public speech at St Muredach’s Cathedral in Ballina.

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