IRISH EYES ARE ALL SMILING ON COUSIN JOE

Posted on 15th April 2023

Have no doubt about it, the leader of the Free World is amongst us, Air Force 1, the ultimate in presidential luxury with every conceivable electronic device, the huge limousine called the Beast, all protected by a swarm of secret service agents.

The view of Slane Castle from the hill

Have no doubt about it, the leader of the Free World is amongst us, Air Force 1, the ultimate in presidential luxury with every conceivable electronic device, the huge limousine called the Beast, all protected by a swarm of secret service agents.  At the centre of this travelling road show is Old Joe himself, and who cares if he got the Black & Tans mixed up with the All Blacks because we know in his heart he is as Irish as Michael D. Higgins.  However, that does not mean that Joe Biden has displayed in any tangible form a republican bias that would undermine the critical role the United States has played as one of the underwriters of the Good Friday Agreement.  In this respect the remarks made by Arlene Foster and Sammy Wilson are both unhelpful and inaccurate.  In fact, he has made it crystal clear that it is up to the political parties in Northern Ireland to decide their future.  More’s the pity, with the heavyweight US economic support waiting in the wings, that the DUP couldn’t get its act together to allow for the restoration of Stormont and the democratic institutions to be in place in time for the visit.  Joe Biden has had an extensive political career prior to the presidency both as Vice President and as a Senator when he represented Delaware from 1973 to 2009.  Doubtless he had extensive opportunities to acquaint himself with the complexities of Irish affairs and learn from the legendary Speaker of the House, Tip O’Neill and, of course, Senator Ted Kennedy.  However, there is one aspect to Biden’s visit that has been largely overlooked and that is the developing relationship with the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.  I simply don’t accept that Biden treated the British Prime Minister with disrespect at the airport.  Wasn’t Joe entitled to greet his glamorous Ambassador to the UK with enthusiasm?  My personal view is that the British are very lucky to have such a bright, enthusiastic, youthful and obviously personable leader.  From the beginning of his premiership, the Prime Minister has made the North of Ireland one of his priorities and the Windsor Framework is a genuine major step towards resolving the problems around the Protocol.  Come the next British election, Rishi Sunak will give Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party a run for their money.

The President made an emotional speech to the Dail stating in Irish:  “I am home.”  He defined the relationship between our two countries as a “partnership for the ages,” emphasising our shared experiences.  It was well crafted and well delivered.  In his own words, “a future for unlimited shared responsibilities.”  He did not shy away from the war in Ukraine referring to the struggle for democracy against autocracy.  However, one would have to say, grateful as we are for Joe’s attention, there was one moment when I actually thought he was going to announce his run in 2024.  He has wisdom – does he have the stamina?



View all news