than a year, because the democratic unionist party, the biggest party which wants to keep northern ireland in the uk, is vetoing the formation of the power sharing coalition because of its concerns over brexit trade barriers with the rest of the uk. setting that aside, when you look back at the last 25 years, the change in northern ireland has been remarkable. the level of political balance has dramatically reduced to the extent that it is relatively rare now, so coming after a bitter sectarian conflict that lasted three decades, and cost the lives of three and half thousand people, it has been a very successful, peace process, most would say. the president biden is likely to again reflect on that, the fact that it was a peace process that benefits the whole island of ireland. most of ireland in northern ireland but the republic was touched by the conflict as well. so we can expect him to talk about that. with regard to the major conflict in the world today, ukraine, that has
very valuable. chris page, our irish corresmnd of very valuable. chris page, our irish correspond of the very valuable. chris page, our irish correspond of the coming - very valuable. chris page, our irish correspond of the coming of- very valuable. chris page, our irish l correspond of the coming of expertly taking us through events this afternoon. and the characters and personalities, the people, the history that is there. because as you have been saying, this is a historic speech. it is not often that a us president addresses the irish parliament and that is exactly what we are reading, presidentjoe biden to do. you should know that you can carry on watching on bbc news, you can also keep up with all of the latest on the bbc news website. i will leave chris for the moment and bringing website. i will leave chris for the momentand bringing in website. i will leave chris for the moment and bringing in emma virgie, just waiting for these pictures to enter the chamber. give us a pers
from north of the border we also welcome from north of the border we also welcome alex from north of the border we also welcome alex lasky, from north of the border we also welcome alex lasky, speaker. from north of the border we also welcome alex lasky, speaker of| from north of the border we also - welcome alex lasky, speaker of the northern welcome alex lasky, speaker of the northern assembly welcome alex lasky, speaker of the northern assembly which welcome alex lasky, speaker of the northern assembly which i welcome alex lasky, speaker of the northern assembly which i am - northern assembly which i am sure you would northern assembly which i am sure you would have northern assembly which i am sure you would have liked northern assembly which i am sure you would have liked to northern assembly which i am sure you would have liked to be - northern assembly which i am sure you would have liked to be able . northern assembly which i am sure you would have liked to
only three other us address that only three other us presidents have given. it is a really significant moment. we will be watched in america, here in the uk and obviously in ireland as well. a really significant moment. chris, take us through, we have some idea of what we are expecting to be in the address, but give us some headlines, if you would like. so the whole theme headlines, if you would like. so the whole theme of headlines, if you would like. so the whole theme of this headlines, if you would like. so the whole theme of this visit headlines, if you would like. so the whole theme of this visit to - headlines, if you would like. so the whole theme of this visit to the - whole theme of this visit to the whole theme of this visit to the whole ireland is the 25th anniversary of the good friday peace agreement. during president biden s visit to northern ireland which ended just over 2a hours ago, people made the observation that peace in northern ireland is not perfect. ther
varadkar come out earlier in diplomatic we say that he is is over an hour late because these have such an hour late because these have such a good time talking to people so much. i a good time talking to people so much. ., ., , ., ., much. i have to tell you, we are “ust much. i have to tell you, we are just watching much. i have to tell you, we are just watching some much. i have to tell you, we are just watching some blue - much. i have to tell you, we are just watching some blue doors, | much. i have to tell you, we are - just watching some blue doors, they look like, i think president biden is behind them. they will be opening them imminent legal steps i will let you know when we see him. the doors have opened now. but we can t quite see him yet. this is a visit, from your perspective, how significant is this? i should just tell you that we can actually see him now. president biden, arriving here at the parliament about half an hour ago, it may be a little longer. but he is n