President Biden says 'UK should be working closer with Ireland' to support NI in Oireachtas speech
Watch President Biden's full speech in the Houses of Oireachtas.
US President Joe Biden has said he believes "the United Kingdom should be working closer with Ireland" to resolve current political impasse in Northern Ireland.
He made the comments during an address to politicians in the Irish Parliament as part of his four-day visit to the island of Ireland.
Mr Biden reflected on 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement, adding that "political violence must never again be allowed to take hold on this island".
His comments were met with applause across the chamber.
"The greatest peace dividend of the Good Friday Agreement is an entire generation of young people, an entire generation of young people whose hearts have been shaped not be grievances of the past, but by confidence about no check points on their dreams," the president continued.
Mr Biden started his speech by saying "it's so good to be back in Ireland".
He then spoke in Irish to say, "I am home".
"I always have a little bit of Ireland even when I'm in Washington. In the Oval Office I have the rugby ball signed by the Irish Rugby team, the ball the team played when they beat the All Blacks in Dublin," said the President.
His remarks were met with laughter and applause.
Mr Biden then turned to the "shared history" between the United States and Ireland and praised the "enduring" strength of the relationship as he promised "a future poised for unlimited shared possibilities".
The President said that relation was clear in terms of the current war in Ukraine, adding that Ireland and the US are "standing together to oppose Russia's brutal aggression and support the brave people of Ukraine".
In his final engagement of the day, Mr Biden attended a banquet in his honour at Dublin Castle, hosted by Taoiseach Mr Varadkar.
Delivering a speech, the President said: "Together, we have worked to become more peaceful, more equal, more diverse, more unified, and I think more hopeful.
"So today, wherever there's a yearning for freedom, a struggle for change, a cry for justice, people around the world know they can count on Ireland.
"They can count on Ireland."
Joe Biden said the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement is a reminder of the "ceaseless work of strengthening democracy".
He continued: "Our countries remember well the cost of war and, most importantly, the profits of peace, and especially as we mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement this week, above all remember the vital and ceaseless work of strengthening democracy to deliver progress for our people everywhere.
"Let's renew our commitment to defending all the values we stand for.
"And let's remember, no barriers too thick or too strong for Ireland or the United States of America. Especially today.
"There's nothing, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, there's nothing our nations can't achieve if we do it together."
Earlier on Thursday morning, Mr Biden met with his Irish counterpart, Michael D. Higgins, as well as the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar.
On Friday his trip will continue with a visit to Co Mayo.