Joe Biden: President calls for restoration of power sharing at Stormont, to ensure Northern Ireland's future

The US President has called for the restoration of power sharing at Stormont and ongoing peace to make sure Northern Ireland can fulfil its economic potential, as he addressed a gathering at the Ulster University campus in Belfast.

The speech is part of Joe Biden's visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. This agreement effectively brought The Troubles to a close in 1998, with Biden saying that the main purpose of the trip is to “keep the peace”.

But the trip has already faced some worrying developments, with police now investigating a potential security breach - and officers recovering four suspected pipe bombs from a cemetery in Londonderry just hours before the president was due to land in Belfast.

Speaking at Ulster University, Biden said the future of Northern Ireland was “America’s future” as he hailed the economic opportunities for the region. “Your history is our history, but even more important your future is America’s future,” the US president said.

“Today’s Belfast is the beating heart of Northern Ireland and is poised to drive unprecedented economic opportunity and investment, from communities across the UK, across Ireland, across the United States. The simple truth is that peace and economic opportunity go together."

In the 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland’s gross domestic product has doubled, the president said, but that figure would only improve if “things continue to move in the right direction”.

Biden called for the restoration of power sharing at Stormont. “I believe the democratic institution established in the Good Friday Agreement remain critical to the future of Northern Ireland," he said. “It’s a decision for you to make, not for me to make.”

But he said “an effective, devolved government that reflects the people of Northern Ireland and is accountable to them, a government that works to find ways through hard problems together” would help draw “even greater opportunity” to the region.

“I hope the assembly and the executive will soon be restored,” he said. “There are scores of major American corporations wanting to come here, wanting to invest. Many have already made homes in Northern Ireland.”

Biden praised the negotiation of the Windsor Framework. Brexit had created “complex challenges” for Northern Ireland, he said.

"I deeply appreciate the personal leadership of Prime Minister Sunak and European Commissioner Von der Leyen to reach an agreement," he said. "The Windsor Framework addresses the practical realities of Brexit and it is an essential step to ensuring the hard-earned peace and progress of the Good Friday agreement that they are preserved and strengthened."

Biden also hit out at those who sought to undermine peace, and said the response of Northern Ireland’s political leaders to the shooting of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell in Omagh showed “the enemies of peace will not prevail”.

“Northern Ireland will not go back, pray God... The attack was a hard reminder there will always be those who seek to destroy, rather than rebuild," he said. “But the lesson of the Good Friday Agreement is this: at times when things seem fragile or easily broken, that is when hope and hard work are needed the most.”

On Wednesday afternoon, the BBC reports a member of the public found a document - marked Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and sensitive.

It is understood it was an operational order which outlines police officer deployments, however, no personal details on the President, his officials or those of other dignitaries associated with the visit were included within the document.

A PSNI spokesperson confirmed an investigation has been launched. “We are aware of a security breach,” they said. “An investigation has commenced and we have notified the senior information risk officer. We take the safety of visiting dignitaries, members of the public and our officers and staff extremely seriously and will put the appropriate actions in place.”

Earlier on Wednesday, PSNI said officers successfully recovered four devices from Derry - and they have since been taken away for further examination. PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton described the discovery as a “sinister and worrying development.”

It came just before President Biden touched down on Air Force One at RAF Aldergrove, where he was greeted by Rishi Sunak.

Speaking on the pipe bomb discovery, which came after masked protesters threw petrol bombs at a police vehicle in the Creggan area of Derry on Monday (10 April), Singleton said: “The actions of those responsible are reprehensible and show a complete disregard and utter contempt for the community.

“These suspected pipe bombs were left in a cemetery, a place where people lay loved ones to rest and visit to pay their respects. That is absolutely shameful.”

Ahead of his meeting with Sunak, Biden told reporters he was “here to listen” as he met Rishi Sunak at a hotel in central Belfast, while the White House has rejected claims the US President - who is proud of his Irish heritage - is anti-British. Biden faced a volley of questions from reporters, including whether he had a message for Northern Irish parties and why he was not discussing a trade deal while on his visit to the UK.

Biden, meeting the Prime Minister on the upper floors of the Grand Central Hotel, said: “Heck of a view out there.” Sunak, smiling, sat at a table with the US president as the pair met over cups of tea.

Sunak said of the meeting it was “great to welcome President Biden to the UK for I think the fourth time since he has become president, but particularly to a part of the UK that is very special and dear to him”.

The visit was a reminder of the US contribution to the peace process, the Prime Minister said.

“We spoke in particular about the incredible economic opportunities that are there in store for Northern Ireland and we talked about the investment potential that is there, the companies that want to invest in Northern Ireland,” he told broadcasters.

“I think that is incredibly exciting, it will bring growth, jobs and prosperity to Northern Ireland and I know he shares my ambition to see the institutions here back up and running, that is what people and businesses in Northern Ireland deserve.”

Biden had been criticised by senior DUP figures, with MP Sammy Wilson claiming the president “has got a record of being pro-Republican, anti-Unionist, anti-British” while former first minister Baroness Foster has suggested he “hates the UK”.

But the suggestion he was anti-British was rejected by Amanda Sloat, senior director for Europe at the US National Security Council, who said: “It’s simply untrue – the fact that the president is going to be engaging for the third time in three months, and then again next month and then again in June, with the Prime Minister of the UK shows how close our co-operation is with the UK."

While Biden is in Ireland, a huge security operation is underway - with a major police prescence in and around both Belfast and Dublin, and warnings of traffic and disruption. £7 million has been spent, and an extra 300 officers have been drafted in.

The president's historic trip is overshadowed by the fact that Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government is not functioning, following a disagreement between the DUP and Sinn Finn over the post-Brexit deal for Northern Ireland. This means a trip to Stormont has been left off the itinerary.

After spending the day in Belfast, Biden will travel south for around three days. During his visit to the Republic of Ireland, he is expected to meet Irish President Michael D Higgins in Dublin, as well Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

During this time, he will address a joint session of the Irish Parliament - and attend a banquet at Dublin Castle.

There is also a personal connection to Ireland for Biden, who has roots to County Mayo. Therefore, as part of his visit, he is set to stop at this province, where some of his ancestors are from - before flying back to the US on Friday (14 April).