Donegal Minister Charlie McConalogue meets US President

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Donegal TD, Charlie McConalogue, together with the President of Ireland Micheal D Higgins and Ms Sabina Higgins and Tánaiste Micheál Martin TD, welcomed the President of the United States of America, Joe Biden to Áras an Uachtaráin today.

The visit forms part of President Biden’s official visit to Ireland.

Following the ceremonial welcome, a meeting took place between the two Heads of State.

At their meeting, President Higgins welcomed President Biden back to Ireland at what is the third meeting between the two Heads of State at Áras an Uachtaráin.

President Biden previously visited President Higgins in June 2016 during his term as Vice President, then again in September 2017 when President Higgins hosted him for lunch.

The topics discussed by the two Heads of State at their meeting this morning included both bilateral and global issues:

Following the meeting, President Biden planted an Irish oak tree in the grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin. In doing so, he followed in the footsteps of Presidents John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, each of whom have previously planted a tree on the grounds.

President Biden then rang the Peace Bell. This was particularly significant as President Biden’s visit takes place in the week of the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

The Peace Bell was erected in 2008 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Agreement and has been rung by a wide range of distinguished visitors in the years since.

Before his departure, President Higgins introduced President Biden to a number of invited guests, representing Irish civil society. President Higgins also met with members of President Biden’s delegation and welcomed them to Ireland, including current and former Members of the United States Congress.

In a statement following the courtesy call, President Higgins said he was delighted to welcome President Biden back to Áras an Uachtaráin today, in what was his first visit as President of the United States.

"The Irish people are very conscious of our strong connection to President Biden and I was pleased to acknowledge the warmth of the welcome which President Biden has already received in Louth and which I have no doubt he will receive tomorrow in Mayo, the two counties of his own closest heritage.

"It is timely that President Biden is visiting not only on the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, but also in the year that marks the 60th anniversary of the visit of President John F. Kennedy to Ireland in June 1963.

"Like so many Irish people, President Biden’s family emigrated to the United States in the mid-19th century and we remain very aware both of our links to those who emigrated in those times, and also those who have migrated to America and across the world in the decades since, and to the particular challenges which many of our diaspora continue to face.

"At our meeting, President Biden and I exchanged views on a number a topics.

"This year marks the halfway point in the implementation timeframe for the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which were agreed in New York in 2015 with the aim of achieving them by 2030. From the outset, it has been clear that implementation of the SDGs, and responding to climate change in particular, requires a significant paradigm shift – one which would include changes at a multilateral, national and local level.

"The global public has shown a strong identification with local environmental interests and made early steps towards the changes necessary. However, significant challenges remain at the national and international levels, particularly in relation to the growth of unaccountable corporate power.

"In this context, we discussed President Biden’s continuing support for the trade union movement, as well as his work to ensure sustainable change and transformation and a green transition through his economic policies, including in the automotive industry and investment in infrastructure expenditure."

President Higgins said he was also pleased to once again have the opportunity to discuss Irish artistic and cultural works with President Biden, and in particular their shared interest in Patrick Kavanagh.

"One of our greatest Irish poets whose work is so familiar to Irish migrants, in particular evoking, as it does, fields left behind and a spirit seeking freedom.”