![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/ES7w3QTWsAcAnSW.jpg\")
The US Speaker has praised the friendship between her nation and Ireland as \u201cbrilliant\u201d.<\/p>\nThe US Speaker has praised the friendship between her nation and Ireland as \u201cbrilliant\u201d.<\/p>\n
Dressed in green ahead of St Patrick\u2019s Day, Nancy Pelosi made the remark as she welcomed Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to the Capitol.<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump was invited to attend the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon event but said at an earlier press conference that he was \u201cbusy\u201d and had \u201cother things to do\u201d.<\/p>\n
It comes after long-running tensions between Mr Trump and Ms Pelosi.<\/p>\n
The guest list for the luncheon included Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis, Democratic Unionist Party MP Ian Paisley and Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken.<\/p>\n
Ms Pelosi extended a welcome to all of the guests in brief remarks before inviting Mr Varadkar to address the gathering.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are coming together at a challenging time globally \u2026 but we are coming together at a time where the friendship between our two countries is so brilliant,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is an honor to welcome the Taoiseach once again to the Capitol to return some of the hospitality he extended to us on our trip to Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his address, Mr Varadkar referred to the friendship between the two countries as an \u201chistoric bond that goes back centuries\u201d.<\/p>\n
He referred to recent changes in Ireland, including the recent inconclusive general election which left him as a caretaker Taoiseach in the wait for a new government to be agreed, as well as the resumption of power-sharing government in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
But he said the impact of coronavirus \u201creminds us that we, humans, are not masters of our world\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a problem that is global,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe virus knows no borders and we all have to work together to combat it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar added that three things will remain the same, Ireland\u2019s commitment to \u201cstaying at the heart of the European Union and at the center of EU-US relations\u201d, facing challenges together \u201cin a spirit of partnership\u201d and protecting the achievement of peace.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever lies ahead, we will protect the achievements of the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement. Thank you for sharing this determination,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n