Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that the number one objective of US President Joe Biden’s visit to Ireland is to “welcome a son of Ireland home”.
He also confirmed that it is not expected that First Lady Jill Biden will accompany her husband on his four-day trip to our shore.
Long-standing rumours of Mr Biden’s trip were finally confirmed yesterday [weds] by both the White House and the Irish Government.
READ MORE: US President Joe Biden's trip to Ireland officially confirmed as Mayo and Louth visits announced
He will travel to Northern Ireland on Tuesday, where he will attend a number of events in Belfast. He will then travel to Dublin on Wednesday evening, where it is expected that he will attend a state banquet that evening.
While many of the specifics of the trip are still unknown, the White House confirmed that he will visit his ancestral homes in Mayo and Louth.
Sources also told the Irish Mirror that President Biden will address TDs and Senators on Thursdays in the Dáil chamber.
The Taoiseach said that it will be a “privilege and an honour” to welcome the US President.
Mr Varadkar said: “The number one objective of President Biden’s visit to Ireland is to welcome a son of Ireland home and to welcome home a Great Irish-American President and to cement and strengthen the really good relationship that we have at the moment with the US.
“I don’t think relations have ever been stronger between Ireland and the US.”
The Taoiseach said that he understands that Mrs Biden will not travel to Ireland with her husband.
Mr Varadkar said it was regrettable that the Northern Irish institutions are not operational for the visit, which has been organised to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. He added he hopes that the visit will “only help” push parties in Northern Ireland to reform the Assembly.
Secret Services agents descended on Leinster House again yesterday [weds], with the Irish Mirror witnessing dozens of agents and senior gardaí assessing the Dáil chamber.
Mr Varadkar said that the full programme for President Biden’s “is not yet confirmed”.
He stated, however, that he will be travelling with “quite a lot of people” and there will be “more happening than a meeting with the President”, Michael D Higgins.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin confirmed on RTÉ's News at One that a “major address” will take place in Mayo next week.
Sources indicated that President Biden will say something “significant” during this speech on Friday evening.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Mr Biden will travel to Ireland and Northern Ireland from April 11 to 14.
“President Biden will first travel to Belfast, Northern Ireland from April 11-12 to mark the tremendous progress since the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement 25 years ago and to underscore the readiness of the United States to support Northern Ireland’s vast economic potential to the benefit of all communities,” she said.
“The President will then travel to Ireland from April 12-14. He will discuss our close cooperation on the full range of shared global challenges.
“He will also hold various engagements, including in Dublin, County Louth, and County Mayo, where he will deliver an address to celebrate the deep, historic ties that link our countries and people.”
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