Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Question Nos. 4 to 7, inclusive, together.

I spoke with President-elect Joe Biden by telephone in the afternoon of 10 November to offer my congratulations on his and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris's recent success in the United States election. We spoke about his strong ties to Ireland, Mayo and Louth in particular, and his most recent visit here in 2016. He is proud of his roots, like so many of the Irish diaspora in America, and we are deeply proud of the contribution Irish people and people of Irish descent have made to life in the United States. I also acknowledged the huge significance of the election of Vice President-elect Harris - a leap forward for all of us who champion diversity and equality around the world.

President-elect Biden reaffirmed his full support for the Good Friday Agreement, and we discussed the importance of an outcome on Brexit that respected the agreement and ensured no return of a hard border on the island of Ireland. He supports the Good Friday Agreement because he believes in it and, as he told me, he wants to see it upheld in letter and in spirit in all circumstances.

We also spoke about the importance of bilateral and multilateral co-operation. We discussed European Union and United States relations, in respect of which Ireland stands ready to be a bridge builder. We look forward to working closely, through the various UN institutions, particularly the Security Council, in progressing international peace and security. Ireland and the United States also share a firm commitment to meeting the global challenges of the Covid pandemic, sustainable economic recovery and climate change.

The President-elect and I discussed the long shared history between Ireland and the United States. Our warm relationship is built on a deep foundation of ancestral ties and decades of close political and diplomatic links. Looking ahead, I see significant opportunity to deepen our vibrant two-way trade relationship in both of our interests.

I took the opportunity to extend an open invitation to President-elect Biden to visit Ireland once he has taken office, if circumstances permit, and he in turn assured me that he looks forward to maintaining the long-standing tradition of events in Washington DC for St. Patrick's Day.

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