Joe Biden was applauded by the two houses of the Irish Parliament as he addressed them in Dublin. AFP
Joe Biden was applauded by the two houses of the Irish Parliament as he addressed them in Dublin. AFP
Joe Biden was applauded by the two houses of the Irish Parliament as he addressed them in Dublin. AFP
Joe Biden was applauded by the two houses of the Irish Parliament as he addressed them in Dublin. AFP

Joe Biden hails 'partnership for the ages' in address to Irish parliament


Tim Stickings
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  • Arabic

Joe Biden has received a standing ovation from MPs in Dublin and told them he wished he could extend his stay in Ireland, in a speech he called "one of the great honours of my career".

The US President on Thursday hailed a "partnership for the ages" between Ireland and America as he addressed parliament on a tour celebrating his Irish ancestry.

"I'm at home," Mr Biden said. "I only wish I could stay longer."

On the second day of his trip, Mr Biden met leaders of the Republic of Ireland who have described the visit as a homecoming.

Mr Biden said the family story he mentions so often was "emblematic of the stories of so many Irish and American families".

"They speak to a history defined by our dreams, they speak to a present written by our shared responsibility and they speak to a future poised for unlimited shared possibilities," he said.

"Today I'd like to reflect on the enduring strength of the connections between Ireland and the United States — a partnership for the ages."

Mr Biden is the fourth US president to address Ireland's Parliament after John F. Kennedy in 1963, Ronald Reagan in 1984 and Bill Clinton in 1995.

Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told Mr Biden "you grace us with your presence" as the pair held closed-door talks before the speech.

They praised each other's response to the war in Ukraine. Mr Varadkar praised America's partnership with European allies, while Mr Biden saluted militarily neutral Ireland for taking in refugees from the conflict.

The Taoiseach said he was delighted to have Mr Biden staying for so long.

"We’re one of only 200 countries in the world and we’re very fortunate that we’re always high on the president’s agenda," he said.

Joe Biden visits the Republic of Ireland - in pictures

A day after his visit to Northern Ireland to mark 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement, Mr Biden renewed his call for power-sharing in the north to resume.

His speech was watched by key figures from the 1998 negotiations including nationalist leader Gerry Adams and former Irish leader Bertie Ahern.

“There are literally hundreds of American corporations ready to come and invest, but they’re cautious because the institutions are not in place,” he said.

He said the UK “should be working closer with Ireland” to support the north.

Mr Biden earlier met Irish President Michael D. Higgins on a first full day in the Republic of Ireland, replete with nods to his Irish heritage.

He signed a visitors' book with the words: "Your feet will bring you where your heart is." Ringing a peace bell at Mr Higgins's residence, he said: "This is for all my Irish ancestors".

"There are so many Irish-Americans, like my relatives who got to America in 1844, '45, and '46, who've never been back here," he said.

Mr Biden has met distant cousins on his trip, toured a castle near where his ancestors in the Finnegan family once lived and will meet ancestry researchers on Friday.

Crowds have welcomed Mr Biden to the Republic with posters and American flags lining the route of his motorcade.

"The Irish people are very conscious of our strong connection to President Biden," Mr Higgins said.

However, his arrival in Ireland on Wednesday was marred by a gaffe.

Speaking in Dundalk, he mixed up rugby's All Blacks with the Black and Tans, British police reservists known for violently suppressing Irish nationalists in the 1920s.

Mr Biden was greeted by crowds in Dundalk after arriving in the Republic of Ireland. AP
Mr Biden was greeted by crowds in Dundalk after arriving in the Republic of Ireland. AP

"You see this tie I have with this shamrock on it? This was given to me by one of these guys right here. He was a hell of a rugby player, and he beat the hell out of the Black and Tans," Mr Biden said.

White House aide Amanda Sloat said it was "incredibly clear" he meant the New Zealand rugby team.

Alluding to the error in a speech on Thursday, Mr Biden made sure to say "All Blacks", drawing laughter from MPs.

The White House also had to fend off claims that Mr Biden was snubbing the UK by spending only half a day in Northern Ireland.

Mr Biden gave a speech at Ulster University after brief meetings with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and leaders of Northern Irish parties.

The visit was arranged to mark 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement, but the power-sharing government envisaged by the deal has been in limbo for months.

Mr Varadkar said Mr Biden did not want to be "overbearing or interfering" by pushing harder for a return of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

What's in the deal?

Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024

India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.

India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.

Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments

India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery

The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand

UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
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May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final

The Buckingham Murders

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Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

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The bio

Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
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GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)

Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)

Saturday

Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)

Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)

Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)

Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)

Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)

Sunday

Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)

Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)

Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)

 

 

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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

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While you're here
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Updated: April 13, 2023, 5:45 PM`