President and Vice-president invited for visit after pandemic
Stormont leaders extend offer during virtual St Patrick’s Day meeting with Biden and Harris
US President Joe Biden and Vice-president Kamala Harris have been invited to Northern Ireland when public health conditions allow.
The invitation was extended during a virtual St Patrick’s Day meeting with Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’neill yesterday.
Mrs Foster described the engagement as “extremely valuable”, adding: “It provided an opportunity to further strengthen our links with the US and look forward to our economic recovery, which will be a key focus for us as we emerge from the pandemic.
“Investment will be a crucial part of rejuvenating our economy, and as our largest international investor, there is huge potential in our relationship with the United States.”
Mrs O’neill said both President Biden and Vice-president Harris “reaffirmed their unequivocal support for the Irish peace process” and support for the Good Friday Agreement.
“I invited both President Biden and Vice-president Harris to visit the North when both sides of the Atlantic overcome the Covid-19 global health pandemic, and together recover and rebuild our societies and economies,” she added.
It comes at a time of pressure on relationships between the Republic and UK due to post-brexit arrangements.
The introduction of the Northern Ireland Protocol to avoid a hard border in Ireland has led to many new checks on goods arriving here from Britain.
Mr Biden, who has family roots in Ireland, previously stated any future trade deal between the US and UK depended on respecting the Good Friday Agreement and preventing the return of a hard border.
While unionists are heavily opposed to the protocol, nationalists support it. However, a senior US official insisted Mr Biden was not backing one over side or the other.
“The US administration is not looking to take sides in this disagreement,” they said.
“The Northern Ireland Protocol is something that was legally binding and that was agreed to by both sides. And there was support for it here as a way to manage the practical challenges around the EU single market while preventing a return of a hard border.
“As I said, we’re aware that there have been challenges over its implementation. We see that as something that the UK and the EU need to resolve. And our belief is that the path forward needs to be a pragmatic one that provides political stability and economic prosperity for all of the people in Northern Ireland.”
It also emerged that no decision has yet been made on a new US envoy.
“We have not yet made any personnel decisions, particularly as we are still getting our key officials into place at the State Department,” the official said.
“But certainly this administration will continue to remain very engaged in Northern Ireland and continue to strongly support political and economic stability there.”
Mrs Foster and Mrs O’neill earlier addressed the NI Bureau’s annual showcase event to a large virtual audience including political, business and tourism leaders in the United States and beyond.
The event — delivered in partnership with Investni, Tourism Ireland and Tourism NI — was designed to showcase the local tourism offering as well as opportunities for business investors.
Mrs Foster added: “As First Minister, I am so proud of Northern Ireland and always welcome the opportunity to showcase our wonderful people and amazing places to the rest of the world.”