Taoiseach has a ‘warm’ conversation with Joe Biden after a tweet sent by mistake

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Taoiseach Micheál Martin spoke by phone with the president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden, this afternoon.

In what was described as a “warm conversation,” Biden recalled his strong Irish roots and his visit to Ireland with his family in 2016.

Mr. Martin congratulated Biden and Kamala Harris on their “remarkable” electoral victory, while the President-elect of the United States reaffirmed his full support for the Good Friday Agreement.

Martin said he also invited Biden and his wife Jill Biden “to return to Ireland when we duly mark their success.”

“They discussed the importance of a Brexit outcome that respects the Good Friday Agreement and guarantees no return from a border on the island of Ireland,” a government statement said on the call.

“They looked forward to working together bilaterally and in a variety of international areas, including relations between the EU and the United States, the UN, including the Security Council, and the significant global challenges of Covid-19, economic recovery and climate change. “.

Tweet deleted

Earlier Tuesday, Martin posted a quickly deleted tweet saying that he had spoken to Biden.

Mr. Martin wrote: “I just finished a very positive call with the President-elect of the United States @JoeBiden.”

The call would be one of the first the US president-elect has had with world leaders, after Biden had with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday.

Earlier this afternoon, a government source said a phone call was being arranged between Mr. Martin and Mr. Biden, but had not yet happened. The source said the tweet was sent in error.

Speaking at the Dáil this afternoon, Mr. Martin said the Irish government was “particularly pleased” that Mr. Biden had “earned the trust of the American people.”

“It’s fair to say that I think the most Irish of Irish presidents since John F Kennedy,” he said of Biden.

As we know, he is proud of his Irish roots and is undoubtedly a long time friend of Ireland.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said Biden’s election was “good for Ireland in many ways.”

Ms McDonald told Dáil: “As we know, he is proud of his Irish roots and is undoubtedly an old friend from Ireland.

“During the presidential election campaign and indeed throughout his tenure, he has acted to promote and protect peace, progress and the Good Friday Agreement.

“He arrives at the office of the president at a time of the British government’s threat of Brexit and its refusal to comply with the agreements that are coming.

“The election of Joe Biden has the potential to reshape the nature of the Brexit negotiation, particularly with regard to the aggressive and arrogant approach taken by the Conservative government and Boris Johnson towards Irish interests,” he added.

“Central to this game has been Johnson’s dangerous internal markets bill,” McDonald said of controversial legislation that would cause the UK government to sideline key parts of the Withdrawal Agreement signed with the European Union, breaking an international treaty.

It comes when UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he had spoken to Biden in a Twitter post.

“I look forward to strengthening the partnership between our countries and working with him on our shared priorities, from addressing climate change to promoting democracy and building back better after the pandemic,” Johnson said.



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