James FitzGerald
Live reporter

Image source, Reuters

We're closing our live coverage there after a busy day of diplomacy in the Republic of Ireland.

My colleagues and I are off to spend the evening wishing we, too, could be tucking into a presidential banquet of the sort Biden is being served at Dublin Castle tonight.

In many ways, the American president's visit to Ireland has been a very personal venture. He's spending time exploring his ancestral ties, and has even been speaking in Irish.

So it was notable to hear him emphasise the bigger picture during his speech a short time ago; to witness him praise the "enduring" strength of US-Irish relations.

No less interesting were his comments that the UK could be "working closer" with Ireland to support Northern Ireland, 25 years after the landmark Good Friday peace deal was signed.

Make sure to read our full writeup of the day's action here.

Today's live coverage has been the work of Eimear Flanagan, Conor Neeson and Rebekah Wilson in Belfast - and Marita Moloney, Jamie Whitehead, Aoife Walsh, Adam Durbin, Jack Burgess and Emily McGarvey who've been with me in London.

Tom Geoghegan
BBC News

Image source, AFP

More than 20 US presidents have or claim Irish family. Why?

"It's very simple, Catholic votes," says John Robert Greene, historian and author of dozens of books about US presidents.

The poor Catholic Irish fleeing the potato famine in the 19th century were accused of stealing American jobs.

Attitudes had changed by the early 20th Century, however, and then probably the most famous Irish-American of all, John F Kennedy, became president. He was the first Catholic to take the highest office.

Since Kennedy, every president apart from Gerald Ford has claimed some Irish ancestry, Greene says.

“When presidents speak about their Irishness, they are only doing what millions of ordinary Americans do all the time”, says Carl Shanahan, founder of Wild Geese, an organisation that promotes Irish culture in the US and worldwide.

“Polling evidence suggests it does help win votes”, says Shanahan, but it's not all about political calculation - there's a genuine love between the two countries, demonstrated by how many Americans view themselves as Irish, however remote the connection.

US President Joe Biden has just finished giving an address in Ireland's parliament - which the ceann comhairle (house speaker) described as "a very proud and historic day for us all".

Biden will be a guest of honour at a banquet in Dublin Castle this evening, a privilege previously given to Queen Elizabeth II and former American president John F Kennedy.

Here's the latest developments as he continues his tour of the Republic of Ireland:

• NI support: Biden told the Houses of the Oireachtas (Ireland's parliament) that "peace is precious" and the UK "should be working closer" with the Irish government to support Northern Ireland
• Ukraine war: He spoke about Russia's "brutal aggression" in Ukraine, and praised the support Ireland has provided Kyiv. He said Irish people "generously opened their hearts" to nearly 80,000 Ukrainian refugees
• Close partner: Biden said the US will remain Ireland's close partner and "most enthusiastic supporter" in growing the two countries' "enormous economic relationship"
• Great honour: He said addressing the Houses was one of the great honours of his career, telling politicians that regardless of which party they belonged to, "our values are the same"
• As gaeilge: The US leader told politicians that it was "so good to be back in Ireland" - and he managed to say "I'm at home" in Irish

Biden's Irish visit comes ahead of presidential racepublished at 19:00 British Summer Time 13 April 2023

19:00 BST 13 April 2023

Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent

Image source, Reuters

It’s well documented that Joe Biden loves to talk about his Irish heritage.

He recites poems by Seamus Heaney, frequently tells stories about his mother, and boasts that 10 of his 16 great-great grandparents lived in Ireland.

It’s not surprising, then, that much of the US media coverage of Biden’s trip to the Emerald Isle has focused on his ancestral roots and connection with the Irish people.

It’s an angle the White House seems happy to encourage.

As with any presidential trip abroad, there’s a domestic political angle to Biden’s activities. According to the US census, approximately 31.5m Americans – 10% of the US population - claim Irish heritage.

And there are some key electoral areas – New Hampshire, Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania and Phoenix in Arizona – that have significant Irish-American populations.

Irish-Americans, while a key constituency in urban Democratic political machines in the 19th and early 20th century, tend not to vote as a block any more, however.

Biden’s emphasis on his Irish roots at this point may be less of an effort to win over Irish-Americans than a subtle way to emphasise his blue-collar, working-class roots.

At a time when being considered “elite” can be a political death sentence, Biden is leaning heavily into his “Irishness” to make the case that he has a common touch – and that has been on full display during his Irish visit.

A reminder that President Biden's visit to Ireland and Northern Ireland has been timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday peace agreement in Belfast.

The US president said in his speech a short time ago that "peace is precious" and "needs its champions".

One remark which stood out was that he felt the "United Kingdom should be working closer" with the Irish government to support Northern Ireland.

So, what will be on the menu for Biden at Dublin Castle tonight?

It's rumoured that Irish seafood and lamb are on the presidential plate.

The Irish Times reports that the menu includes a starter of Lambay Island crab cake, a main course of roast Irish lamb and for dessert - pear and maple tart.

The occasion is being hosted by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

The US president has left the Irish Parliament after his speech to members of the chamber. Next on the agenda - dinner at Dublin Castle.

There was more than just one special guest in the Irish parliament today.

Ceann Comhairle (Speaker) Seán Ó Fearghaíl announced the presence of a "young observer" to the proceedings, who he introduced as Baby Margo.

The child is the daughter of Irish senator Rebecca Moynihan, and was in her mother's arms in the gallery.

"I do suspect that Margo's attendance here will go down in family folklore for many years to come," Ó Fearghaíl said, as the child got a round of applause.

The baby also received an apology from Joe Biden.

"Margo I apologise to you, little baby girl," he said. "The idea that you're subjected to hearing a president of the United States have to deliver a policy speech is as bad as all my children have been put through."

That's it - President Biden wraps up his speech which lasted almost half an hour.

He is greeted by rapturous applause from those gathered in the chamber.

Biden says now that one of the great honours of his career "to be here today".

"I mean it from the bottom of my heart," he adds.

He tells the House that "no matter what party we belong to, our values are the same".

It's about honesty, dignity and justice, he says.

"You all have every ingredient to make it work. It's an honour to be here, thank you very much," Biden says.

Biden notes that today is the birthday of late Irish poet Seamus Heaney, who died in 2013.

The US president says he often quoted Irish poets when speaking in the US Senate over 36 years.

He says it was often believed he did so because of his Irish ancestry - but it's actually because they are the best poets.

The president goes on to thank Heaney's widow who is in attendance.

President Biden has been on his feet for more than 20 minutes now as he praises the partnerships between the United States and Ireland.

He tells the chamber: "In this moment, the world needs Ireland and the United States and our limitless imaginations."

Biden says he defines America and Ireland in one word: "Possibilities."

"We believe anything is possible," he shouts. "This is the USA and Ireland. There is nothing beyond our capacity if we work together. Now is the time to meet every challenge together."

Biden says he hadn't planned for running for present again in 2020 (the year he was elected).

He says his son Beau had just died from glioblastoma after returning from Iraq - and that he should be the one addressing the House.

Later, he says the world is at an inflection point, and that the choices we make today will affect the world for the next four to five decades

Biden says that the United States will remain Ireland's "closest partner" and "most enthusiastic supporter".

"We've always been and we're going to continue to grow our enormous economic relationship as a foundation for both our nation's prosperity," he says.

The president references the many US companies setting up in their HQs in Ireland. He comments: "Together, Ireland and the United States are building a future of greater economic dignity.

"One where rights of workers are respected, and corporations pay their fair share."

President Biden says: "I think the UK should be working closer with Ireland to support the people of Northern Ireland".

He continues to praise the Good Friday Agreement - which he says has ensured that an entire generation of young people's lives have been shaped by confidence that there are no "checkpoints on their dreams".

Biden speaks about his trip to Belfast now, and the importance of peace in Northern Ireland.

He says peace is "precious", and needs its champions.

The 1998 Good Friday peace deal signed in Belfast changed lives for the better in Northern Ireland and the Republic, he says.

"Political violence must never again be allowed to take hold on this island," Biden adds.

Ireland's support for Ukraine is "especially meaningful", says Biden, because it carries "moral authority with nations around the world".

"The island of Ireland has always been a voice for liberty, global cooperation and equality of all mankind - because Ireland remembers the terrible cost of war," he says.

He goes: "Ireland remembers what it means to have to flee home, leaving everything behind and begin again on foreign shores."

"The Irish people have generously opened their hearts, their homes" to nearly 80,000 Ukrainian refugee, he says.

President Biden sticks with the Ukraine theme. He says over the past year Ireland has stood proudly with the United States and other partners in helping Kyiv. He cites medical and humanitarian support.

"We want to hold Russia accountable for actions," he continues.

Biden tells the House that Ireland and the US are standing together to oppose Russia's "brutal aggression" in Ukraine.

This is met with a round of applause.

Biden praises the support and aid Ireland has provided to Ukraine.

He says he's known Putin for over 25 years, and Putin thought the world would look the other way when he invaded his neighbour.

"But he was wrong on every point. Today, we're more united and more determined than ever to defend the values that make us strong," Biden says.

Another round of applause.

The US president reminisces about values passed down through the generations of his family.

He says the US and Ireland share values, adding: "As nations we've known hardship and division but also found solace in one another".

Biden says the two nations "know what it means to persevere for freedom.

"It's not hyperbole - it's a fact. It's not just the the hope but conviction better days lie ahead."

He cites the first trip of US President John F Kennedy to the Irish parliament in the 1960s.