President Michael D Higgins addresses tributes to Biden after victory in US elections



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President Michael D Higgins has led the tributes to Joe Biden following his victory in the race for the White House.

The Democratic candidate became president-elect on Saturday after winning the state of Pennsylvania, granting him the necessary 270 electoral college votes.

Biden is also the most voted presidential candidate in American history, with about 75 million votes.

He maintains strong family ties to Ireland, and congratulations from politicians have been pouring in quickly.

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina Higgins have congratulated Joe Biden on his electoral victory in the United States (Brian Lawless / PA)

Higgins said: “Today, I have conveyed my best wishes to President-elect Joe Biden, wishing him and the American people every good fortune during his tenure and congratulating him, and congratulating Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on his historic achievement. .

“Sabina and I, and the Aras an Uachtarain staff, have the best memories of Joe Biden’s two visits to us.

“The ties between the peoples of Ireland and the United States are close and strong, and I hope that our two countries will work together to rebuild much-needed trust in the methods and institutions of national and international solidarity and cooperation.

“That solidarity is indispensable, if we want to address the urgent challenges of our time, including issues as diverse as the need to address the cause and consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, global poverty, hunger, migration. and the digitization of our economies, all the issues that the President-elect has committed to.

“On behalf of the people of Ireland, I wish President-elect Biden and Vice-President-elect Harris every success for years to come.”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin described Biden as a “true friend of this nation.”

He said: “On behalf of the Government and people of Ireland, I offer my sincere congratulations to Joe Biden on his election as the 46th President of the United States.

“Ireland is proud of the election of Joe Biden, just as we are proud of all generations of Irish men and women and their ancestors, whose work and genius have enriched the diversity that drives America.”

Mr. Martin highlighted the strong ties between Mr. Biden and Ireland.

“Joe Biden has always been a staunch friend and supporter of Ireland, including the prosperity, stability and opportunity that made possible the Good Friday Agreement, to which he has pledged his constant and consistent support,” he said.

He added: “I also want to congratulate Kamala Harris on her election as Vice President and acknowledge the tremendous importance of her election to the position.

“I am looking forward to working with the new Administration in the next period in advancing international peace and security.”

Mr. Martin pledged to advance the issue of undocumented Irish immigrants in the United States, of whom there are about 50,000.

He said: “I also intend to work closely with the new administration and the United States Congress to achieve comprehensive immigration reform, an issue that is so important to the tens of thousands of Irish that they make a significant contribution to America. “.

Foreign Minister Simon Coveney wrote: “Congratulations to @JoeBiden on becoming the 46th president-elect of #USA.

“We look forward to working with a #BidenHarris presidency to maintain and strengthen relations between Ireland and the United States, and much more.”

Continuing and Higher Education Minister Simon Harris was celebrating his success and that of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris with her young daughter, Saoirse.

He tweeted: “Congratulations Mr. President-elect, a decent man with deep Irish roots. It’s great to see Harris go with you to the White House!

“@KamalaHarris -1st female vice president of the United States. Historical moment and about which I will tell my little one everything. You can be whatever you want to be! “

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