Image source, EBU

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has been speaking to reporters outside Farmleigh House after his meeting with US President Biden.

Varadkar says he’s happy with how Biden's visit is going so far, and praises the amount of time the US leader has spent in Ireland - describing this as a "real honour".

He says he doesn't think Irish-US relations have "ever been better".

Varadkar says they spoke about the Good Friday Agreement - a peace deal signed 25 years ago - and Biden's discussions with party leaders in Northern Ireland while he was in Belfast yesterday.

The US leader is keen to be supportive but doesn't want to be overbearing, Varadkar says.

He adds that they also spoke about the war in Ukraine, and that Biden was thankful for the role Ireland is playing helping to alleviate hunger around the world.

Preparations for Joe Biden's speech to Irish politicians in a short while have been "absolutely hectic", the speaker of the Irish Parliament's lower house has said.

Seán Ó Feargháil said the amount of planning was unprecedented.

Speaking to Irish broadcaster RTE, Ó Feargháil revealed some of the guest list for Biden's address, which includes the widow of one of Biden's favourite poets, Seamus Heaney.

Others invited to attend include:

• Former Irish President Mary McAleese
• Former Taoiseachs Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny
• Former Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams
• Party leaders from Northern Ireland, including Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill, Alliance leader Naomi Long and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood
• And Larysa Gerasko, ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland

Joe Biden's day of official events isn't over yet, as he is due to address the Irish parliament shortly.

After giving a speech to politicians, the US president will head to Dublin Castle to attend a official banquet with Irish President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Vardakar, both of whom he's been talking to today.

Tomorrow, on the final day of his Irish trip, Biden will head out to the north-west of the Republic of Ireland and visit Knock Shrine: a Roman Catholic pilgrimage site in County Mayo.

After spending time at a local heritage centre, Biden will travel to his ancestral home of Ballina and deliver a speech at the town's cathedral.

US President Joe Biden has now left Farmleigh - where he was meeting Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar - and is now on his way to the next stop on his tour: Ireland's parliament.

So stay with us as we bring you the latest.

That little sporting interlude for Biden and Varadkar feels like a good moment to take stock.

It's been a day of diplomacy in Dublin, where Joe Biden has been meeting Irish political and military leaders.

So far the US president has:

• Met Irish President Michael D Higgins at Higgins's official residence, joking that he won't be heading home afterwards given how beautiful the country is
• Signed the visitor's book at Áras an Uachtaráin (the president's house), writing in his message that: "Your feet will bring you where your heart is"
• Planted a tree on the grounds of the estate - in line with tradition - and rung the Peace Bell four times "for all my Irish ancestors"
• Travelled to meet with Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House
• Hailed Ireland's leadership on global issues - such as taking in refugees from Ukraine following the Russian invasion
• In reply, Varadkar spoke of his worries about democracy being "in retreat" around the world, praising Biden in return for the role the US has played in supporting Ukraine

Image source, Getty Images

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and US President Joe Biden have left Farmleigh House for a walk around outside.

The two leaders are watching children playing a game of camogie.

Let's hope the sliotar - the ball used in camogie - doesn't hit Biden or Varadkar.

Biden is now chatting and taking pictures with the girls.

Image source, EBU

Image source, PA Media

Here's some more detail on those exchanges between Taoiseach (Irish PM) Leo Varadkar and President Joe Biden that were caught on camera in the last hour.

Varadkar hailed Biden for his efforts to protect "democracy and liberty" in Europe following Russia's invasion of Ukraine - a war he said he never expected to see in Europe again.

"If it wasn’t for American leadership, and if it wasn’t for America and Europe working together, I don’t know what kind of world we’d live in," the Irish PM added.

He also addressed issues closer to home, in Northern Ireland.

"I look forward to hearing later on about your visit to Belfast and meeting with the party leaders," Varadkar said. "We’re very keen to see the Good Friday Agreement (government) institutions functioning again."

Chris Andrews
BBC News NI

President Biden appeared relaxed during his visit to the president's house earlier. He was happy to field several questions from reporters after ringing the peace bell and planting a tree, which is just metres from one planted by former President Barack Obama.

Amid the photo ops, however, the one that eluded the presidents involved a dog.

Young Misneach refused to play ball when called by both presidents - but it did turn around to see what the commotion was about when the bell was struck and filled the garden air.

As they walked back to the building President Higgins made a detour to pet Misneach who unceremoniously sprinted past the American guest without stopping to say hello.

Here's the moment Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar shook hands with President Joe Biden when the US leader arrived at Farmleigh House a short time ago.

The two leaders are speaking about ties between the US and Ireland.

Image source, EBU

In return, Varadkar thanks Biden for America's leadership when it comes to the war in the Ukraine - the sort of event he never thought he'd see again in his lifetime.

He speaks more widely about "democracy in retreat" around the world.

Biden says he thinks the meeting is an opportunity to make "tremendous progress".

He continues by saying he's not just commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement - he also wants to hail Ireland's "leadership" on world issues such as taking in Ukrainian refugees.

Biden says "it feels so good" for the US to be having a stronger and stronger relationship with Ireland.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Joe Biden are speaking now.

Varadkar tells Biden it's "great" to have him back in Ireland and that the visit is going "very well".

He tells his visitor: "You grace us with your presence."

Image source, Reuters

Biden told Taoiseach Leo Varadkar "it's a beautiful day" as they stood at the front of Farmleigh House where the sun broke through the clouds for a picture-perfect moment.

Our earlier post by Chris mentioned that Biden was quizzed by reporters about a recent leak of US intelligence documents.

He said authorities were “getting close” to the person behind the leak of sensitive information about the war in Ukraine, as well as on China and US allies.

Here's what else he said:

He added: "There's a full blown investigation going on, they're getting close but I don't have an answer".

Image source, RTE

Biden has arrived at Farmleigh House to meet Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

The two leaders shook hands and exchanged a few words before posing for pictures.

We'll be bringing you the latest updates - but you can also follow our live stream by pressing the Play button at the top of this page.

Image source, EBU

US President Biden is back in his armoured car now - nicknamed The Beast - after walking along the red carpet outside the official residence of the Irish president, Áras an Uachtaráin.

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina stand outside waving goodbye.

Biden returns the wave as his car drives off and starts the journey to Farmleigh House, where the US President will be meeting Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar.

Chris Andrews
BBC News NI

Watched over by the Irish President and a tiered platform filled to the brim with reporters, President Biden took more than two minutes to script his message for the visitor book.

“Your feet will bring you where your heart is” was the line he had clearly planned to use and he repeated it to reporters after.

In many ways that message is the theme of his visit, and the reason for many of the locations on his itinerary.

Turning to the US press to his left, who threw him a dodged question on leaked intelligence papers, the president joked that he may even prolong his stay in Ireland indefinitely.

Image source, RTE

Joe Biden rang the Peace Bell at Áras an Uachtaráin four times.

The bell was installed in 2008 to mark the tenth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and now, 25 years after the 1998 peace deal signed in Belfast, Biden was the latest visitor to have his photo taken at the installation.

Speaking to President Higgins, Biden said that his first ring was "for Ireland" and the second was for the United States.

Ringing the bell the third time, he turned to the cameras and said: "This is for all my Irish ancestors."

He then added: "And a fourth one for peace."

We've just seen President Biden in gardening mode, as he planted a tree in the grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin.

But he's not the first distinguished visitor to have been invited to add to the greenery of the sprawling estate. Below is a look at some of the others who have left their mark on the Phoenix Park.

As you'll see from the photos, a plaque is traditionally installed to mark the spot - inscribed in the Irish language.

Image source, RTE

Image source, RTE

Image source, RTE

Image source, REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

The US president stopped briefly to plant a tree in the grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin, with the Irish President Michael D Higgins standing alongside him.

The move is particularly symbolic given that previous US presidents John F Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama have all planted trees in the same grounds.

He's now continuing his walk with President Higgins and his wife, Sabina.