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US president Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris have been invited to Northern Ireland when public health conditions allow.<\/p>\nUS president Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris have been invited to Northern Ireland when public health conditions allow.<\/p>\n
The invitation was extended during a virtual meeting with Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O\u2019Neill on St Patrick\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, the president and vice president expressed their strong support for the Good Friday Agreement, noting that the balance of Northern Ireland\u2019s relationships \u2014 north-south, east-west, and internally \u2014 can benefit all of Northern Ireland\u2019s communities.<\/p>\n
They also conveyed support for the Northern Ireland Protocol and encouraged the leaders to continue working together toward a forward-looking Northern Ireland with a prosperous economy that reflects the identities and aspirations of all traditions.<\/p>\n
Ms Foster, the leader of the DUP, and Ms O\u2019Neill, vice president of Sinn F\u00e9in, have differing views of the post-Brexit arrangements which sees additional checks on some goods at the North\u2019s ports to avoid the need for a hard border on the island.<\/p>\n
The DUP is urging the UK government to ditch the protocol, claiming it creates a border in the Irish Sea.<\/p>\n
In a statement after the meeting Ms Foster described the engagement as \u201cextremely valuable\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt 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,\u201d Ms Foster said.<\/p>\n
\u201cInvestment 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms O\u2019Neill said both president Biden and vice president Harris \u201creaffirmed their unequivocal support for the Irish peace process\u201d and support for the Good Friday Agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Ms Foster and Ms O\u2019Neill earlier virtually addressed the NI Bureau\u2019s annual showcase event to a large virtual audience including political, business and tourism leaders in the United States and beyond.<\/p>\n
The event \u2013 delivered in partnership with InvestNI, Tourism Ireland and Tourism NI \u2013 was designed to showcase Northern Ireland\u2019s tourism offering as well as opportunities for business investors.<\/p>\n
Ms Foster added: \u201cAs 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we had to do things differently this year, the virtual NI Bureau event was a wonderful reflection of what makes Northern Ireland so special.\u201d<\/p>\n