live from london — this is bbc news... president biden meets ireland's prime minister in dublin — he's expected to address the irish parliament shortly. this is the scene live in dublin — as lawmakers await the president's arrival. more protests — more clashes with police — as opposition continues to plans to raise france's pension age. thousands of ta ken thousands of taken to the streets in paris one of thousands of protests taking place in the country.

let's turn to ireland — where us presidentjoe biden has been meeting with leading politicians and is now on his way to address a joint sitting of the irish parliament it's been an extremely busy day for the president. he set off to parliament from farmleigh house in dublin after meeting with the irish prime minister — leo varadkar. while in the grounds of farmleigh, he watched a gaelic sport demonstration by local children. inside, the taoiseach praised american leadership since the russian invasion of ukraine last year. mr biden praised irish values and set out plans for a closer relationship between the us and ireland. there really is an opportunity to make serious progress. notjust because of the accords we have signed, 25 years ago, but in terms of the way you lead ireland and ireland is moving in a way that is taking its place

in the world and i think it feels so good to be able to have this merging and stronger relation between the united states and ireland. this morning, mr biden spent time at the official residence of the irish president, micheal d higgins, telling him ireland is an incredible place and joking that he isn't going home while there, he planted an oak tree in the grounds and rang the bell of peace. that bell of course, has huge significance for peace on the island of ireland. it was erected in 2008 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the good friday agreement. mr biden also inspected a military guard of honour, and signed the visitors�* book. he told reporters what he wrote. as the irish saying goes, your feet will bring you where your heart is. and then i say it's an honor to return. and i talk about returning again to the home of my ancestors to celebrate the things that bind

ireland and the united states and recommit ourselves to peace, equity and i think the most irish of words used in my family was dignity. anyway, thank you all very much. and i'm not going home, i'm staying here, in this incredible place. all you american reporters... it looks just like the white house, right? thank you, man. i'm joined now by our ireland correspondent, emma vardy. correspondent, emma va rdy. correspondent, emma vardy. chris page in dublin. biden —— chris page in dublin. president biden running a little bit behind schedule. i think the prime minister leo varadka is a good sign because he's been so engaged and chatting with people and that is the reason. yes, exactly the president seems to be making clear he is very much enjoying this visit to a land where

he has so many ancestral links. there's a helicopter right above us here, we are just outside irish parliament in dublin. we are taking that as a sign that president biden is very close indeed. the first of what will be a number of police motorcycle riders has just driven what will be a number of police motorcycle riders hasjust driven it here. across the road from the main parliamentary estates is a crowd behind barriers waiting for the arrival of the presidential motorcade, which we hear is making its way through dublin city centre. this coming at the end of a day where president biden has already met with the irish president, michael d higgins. taking part in some very symbolic ceremonies there. he planted an oak tree in the ground as his predecessor asjohn f. kennedy, ronald reagan, bill clinton and barack obama had all done. he

read a piece belt which was put into the ground to commemorate the good friday agreement. in 1998 and president biden on this trip is commemorating the 25th anniversary of that peace deal which largely ended the conflict in northern ireland. then it was over two family house, the irish government country houses on the outskirts of the city to have talks with the leader of the irish government leo varadka covering the things they corroborate on to irish parliament over the next hour. ukraine is likely to be mentioned. acknowledging the ukrainian refugees who come here. the ongoing peace process in northern ireland and economic ties between the us and ireland with us investment in the economy here being so important for ireland's economic growth. just heard the first sirens

they are, again, a sign that something may be happening just around the corner. descent certainly amongst politicians who have been coming here throughout the afternoon is that this will be a moment in the history of the irish parliament and the history of the irish nation, which they will want to savour. a few members of parliament, five out of the 160 from the left—wing party, people before profit, they are boycotting the president speech with a pit they object to his foreign policy. but the other parties all very much positive about this visit. just as i was speaking to you i can see a fleet of motorcycle outriders just arriving through the gates here. presumablyjust ahead of the presidential motorcade, led by the limousine known as the beast. there we have about a half a dozen police motorcycle outriders, members of the

irish police force who are providing security. of course there is a huge security. of course there is a huge security operation are around this presidential visit as you would expect. a few other cars with blue flashing lights. i do think nowjust driving into the grounds here of the irish parliament come up past the three flags that are flying, the ukrainian flag, the flag of the european union and in deed the stars & stripes, the limousine bearing the irish flag and the american flag carrying president biden for this historic address to the houses of the irish parliament. a massive presidential entourage travelling with the president as you would expect. several of these black security vehicles carrying white house officials are here to for that they are about to pull up at the front door of the parliament

building. the presidential limousine coming through the gates now. just a minute or two inaudible. —— inaudible. minute or two inaudible. -- inaudible.— minute or two inaudible. -- inaudible. , , , , inaudible. chris page is bringing us u . inaudible. chris page is bringing us u- toda . a inaudible. chris page is bringing us up today- a few _ inaudible. chris page is bringing us up today. a few problems _ inaudible. chris page is bringing us up today. a few problems with - inaudible. chris page is bringing us up today. a few problems with his i up today. a few problems with his microphone. as you can see, he was talking about this huge security operation. this follows the us president where he visits. obviously here, this is only the fourth time a us president has spoken to the irish parliament. it is a very significant day in ireland, a very significant day in ireland, a very significant day for the parliamentarians who have made their way into the arctic ridge parliament here in dublin. —— irish parliament. there's a few more

people, president biden has invited. the widow of shamus heaney, marie is there with president biden affiliation and ancestry and he quite often quotes shamus heaney. it's understood he wanted marie to visit with him. just looking at the security officials leading the way. there will be nine members of the us congress that will be joining the president here at the parliament. one senator and of course not forgetting we have been talking about this being very much a family visit in a way for president biden. discovering his roots, members of his family accompanying him today. his sister sister and his son

hunter. watching the personnel that accompany president biden wherever he travels. what we know is that the us president will give a speech to assembled politicians and guests, thatis assembled politicians and guests, that is in the lower house of the chamber shortly. that is in the lower house of the chambershortly. i that is in the lower house of the chamber shortly. i should say as well that you are able to keep up with all the latest development on the bbc news website. there you can follow developments from dublin.

chris, i think your microphone issues may be resolved if you can tell us what you see from your vantage point.— tell us what you see from your vantage point. yes, sarah i hope communication _ vantage point. yes, sarah i hope communication issues _ vantage point. yes, sarah i hope communication issues have - vantage point. yes, sarah i hope l communication issues have indeed been resolved. the presidential motorcade has arrived here at the house in dublin city centre are ahead of this historic presidential address byjoe biden to more than 200 parliamentarians. just on the steps waiting to greet the president we had the speakers of both houses of the irish parliament. the concordia, speaker of the lower lack dues lower house, he will introduce president biden to members of parliament and also a senator who chairs the upper house of the irish parliament known as ——. you see the

size of the presidential entourage as ever it really is quite a sight. we were talking about several dozen black vehicles. we are talking about countless flashing lights. this massive security operation that surrounds a presidential visit both involving members of the irish police force and of course members of the travelling staff of the president. we are just waiting now for president biden to emerge from his limousine, known as the beast. and to be greeted on the steps of the main entrance here to the parliament building by president biden did not carry out an address to the assembly, not sitting at the

moment because of a political crisis. , we see the beast itself is pulling up in front of the front door of parliament. joe biden in the back—seat there. he will be greeted by the chairs of the irish parliament, the speakers of both houses. remember, this is a dress to parliament for parliamentary occasion, not speaking in irish government occasion. you see the irish flag, the tricolor, green white and orange flying on the limousine along with the stars and stripes for the president biden staffjust waiting now stripes for the president biden staff just waiting now to open stripes for the president biden staffjust waiting now to open the door. and he will emerge from the vehicle. this is a moment that dozens of international media have been waiting for all afternoon. it's very important international

spotlight for ireland and i think there we have president biden emerging from his vehicle. being greeted by sean 0 fearghail, a very experienced speaker of the irish parliament. and senatorjerry parliament. and senator jerry baltimore parliament. and senatorjerry baltimore also. we understand it will be sean 0 fearghail who introduces the president to his fellow parliamentarians and jerry baltimore will make the closing still at two statements of the presidents address with the no doubt they are exchanging warm awards. i like that wine. good to see you. looking forward to it. good to see you. looking forward to it -- _ good to see you. looking forward to it -- i_ good to see you. looking forward to it -- i like — good to see you. looking forward to it. —— i like that one.

good to see you. looking forward to it. -- i like that one.— it. -- i like that one. there we have president _ it. -- i like that one. there we have president biden - it. -- i like that one. there we have president biden being - it. -- i like that one. there we | have president biden being led it. -- i like that one. there we . have president biden being led up the steps there by being taken inside with members of the media here. he has another picture from this visit that will be treasured here in ireland. it is seldom the case that a country of ireland's size is an occasion like this. but ireland gets more american attention then most. another photo opportunity they are just right in front of the front door. a big smile from the president and on his left the speakerjerry bottomere the speaker

of the upper house of irish parliament. senior members of the government will be upside for him. his deputy and the foreign minister among them. also parliamentarians for northern ireland who didn't have an address in the weeks parliament in belfast because it is not sitting at the moment because of the collapse of power—sharing bear. but the speaker of the assembly in belfast has made the journey here to dublin as had michelle o'neill from the irish party sinn fein who is in line to be the first minister of northern ireland if indeed that devolved government in belfast is restored. a cross—border element, in ireland element to this event. and to president biden will be greeting senior political leaders in side the irish parliament before he goes into the chamber where he will be sean 0 fearghail introduced by and he will

speak expecting to focus on the themes he is already touched on all is highly symbolic visit to ireland. chris, just to let you know we are watching the shots from inside of the parliament. as you are saying, president biden not in there yet but meeting lots of people who have come notjust parliamentarians based in the parliament but other guests. sean o'hearn, also there as well. yes, bertie ahern with the good friday agreement being signed in 25 years, i spoke to them recently for a bbc documentary, very much part of that peace deal is a highlight of his career. taoiseach he was the for 11 years in total for that one of the longest—serving to hold that office. anotherform of candy

taoiseach who was until leo brecher took over and if you count in the fact that the foreign minister also the deputy prime minister and in fact he had taoiseach a turn as last december. then there are actually three former taoiseach who are attending the event to hear president biden speak and also the current holder of that office as well. leader of the opposition mary lee mcdonald who is the current leader of sinn fein, a party that leads in the republic of ireland and in northern ireland, it's the biggest party in the regional assembly in northern ireland at the moment and the second biggest party in irish parliament in dublin. also former president mary magalhaes who was president between 1997 and 2011,

she also is in attendance. she was president of ireland whenever the good friday agreement was signed about a year after she took office. buried much focus on recent history, last quarter of the century very much a focus on history stretching back much further than that to president biden ancestors who left this island in the 18405 in a very difficult time, a time of famine. al5o president biden will look forward to the future ties, future economic ties between the us and ireland. we economic ties between the us and ireland. ~ ., ., , ., economic ties between the us and ireland. ~ ., ., ., . ireland. we taoiseach are watching ictures of ireland. we taoiseach are watching pictures of the _ ireland. we taoiseach are watching pictures of the former _ ireland. we taoiseach are watching pictures of the former talking - ireland. we taoiseach are watching pictures of the former talking to i pictures of the former talking to gerry adams, presumably the good friday agreement, it really underpinning this visit, isn't it? its early years. it's the major theme of the visit, which began in northern ireland for the president biden was speaking in northern ireland a little over 24 hours ago,

was at ul5ter university in belfast city centre. focu5ing was at ul5ter university in belfast city centre. focusing on the peace process, a focus on the risks that politicians president biden took to make the compromi5e5 nece55ary politicians president biden took to make the compromi5e5 necessary for the peace deal. jerry adams a5 make the compromi5e5 necessary for the peace deal. jerry adams as you say, the leader at the time of sinn fein, which was the political wing of the irish republican army, the ira, the most lethal paramilitary group during the conflict in northern ireland. jerry ireland two adams and others led the broader iri5h republican movement from gun5 iri5h republican movement from guns to government. he led the republican movement along the path to peace, and eventually sinn fein took its place in the power—sharing regional government in belfast. and it was a former ira commander who ended up jointly running the power—sharing to evolved government in belfast. that is part of the story of the peace

process, the conflict and peace process, the conflict and peace process in northern ireland, which is regarded as being a high point, notjust of british and irish diplomacy but also american diplomacy but also american diplomacy for the bill clinton was vital we are told in the vital hours before that agreement, on the phone to people including jerry adams trying to persuade them to make the compromi5e5 that were needed in orderfor compromi5e5 that were needed in order for everyone to agree. tho5e talks were chaired by the former us senate majority leader george mitchell, another democrat who is expected to return to belfast for another event commemorating the good friday agreement friday. strong history of american involvement in the peace process, particularly that time of the good friday agreement and of members ofjob items party in particular, democratic party in particular. president biden is made the point already and may make it again in the speech to parliament that theirs i5 again in the speech to parliament that theirs is a matter that stretches acro55 that theirs is a matter that stretches across the political divide in america, both democrats and republicans. he said are fully

committed to the cause of peace and reconciliation in ireland and he is very much carrying the flag, as it were for that visit. just very much carrying the flag, as it were for that visit.— were for that visit. just you you know, were for that visit. just you you know. we _ were for that visit. just you you know. we are _ were for that visit. just you you know, we are watching - were for that visit. just you you know, we are watching the - were for that visit. just you you - know, we are watching the pictures ju5t know, we are watching the pictures just inside the building. we can see bertie ahern, jerry adams talking ju5t awaiting president biden. we heard earlier president biden is liking to take his time to talk to as many people as possible. perhaps this is the meet and greet taking longer because president biden has a lot of people he wants to talk to. that's right. he is meeting people who he has known for a very long time. back in the 905 whenever the group two good friday agreement was taken place he was on the senate foreign relations committee, in fact then because a large part of his or iri5h sunak iri5h american history. he had a general interest in the issue. he was keeping in touch with

what was going on. he was and still is a close friend of senator george mitchell who is chairing tho5e peace talks. he's had contact with people talk5. he's had contact with people like jerry adams before, talk5. he's had contact with people likejerry adams before, bertie ahern, the former iri5h president, he is a politician who throughout his career has been interested in irish i55ues his career has been interested in irish issues in particular the issue iri5h issues in particular the issue of the peace process. that i'm sure is being reflected in the conversations that he is having. we also talked about he has been keen to talk, he enjoys the conversation. all the fun that can go with a visit thatis all the fun that can go with a visit that is colourful and touches on family history that is very personal to you. that of course one iri5h stereotype that most people will say is probably very true is that irish

people in general do like to talk them5elve5.

that's right. certainly there is an electoral advantage for american presidents to take an interest in ireland, as you say. there are more than 30 million americans who will essentially trace their ance5try to e55entially trace their ance5try to the iron loan5 so it is still, i suppose a tradition, an element in society, american society that has been major impact. there are many lobbying groups in washington that have iri5h connections. there have been a very long american involvement in the peace process here. they've been great american investment in ireland's economy. they have a big tech companies based

in the us, the likes of the facebook parent company, meta, google, they have their european headquarters here in dublin. that is done to various economic conditions. many variou5 economic conditions. many people here would say that the links between the us and ireland certainly have played a part in the growth of certain lucrative sectors of the irish economy. so i suppose the way that irishne55 play5 irish economy. so i suppose the way that irishne55 plays in washington, in america, certainly has an impact in america, certainly has an impact in america, certainly has an impact in america itself and the impact is felt very much here in ireland. and those sorts of ties are going to be spoken about by president biden by two members of the irish parliament. he is going to be paying tribute to the role ireland has played diplomatically in the world. ireland recently completing a two—year term on the un security council. for a

relatively small country, a country of 6 million people, ireland feel5 of 6 million people, ireland feels very much that it makes an impact over would be expected ju5t very much that it makes an impact over would be expected just on the pictures there, i see bertie ahern a picture5 there, i see bertie ahern a former taoiseach i5 picture5 there, i see bertie ahern a former taoiseach is sitting be5ide anotherformer former taoiseach is sitting be5ide another former taoiseach a5 former taoiseach is sitting be5ide another former taoiseach as well. two sides of the political spectrum in ireland. reflected there in those two men. bertie ahern i5 in ireland. reflected there in those two men. bertie ahern is from fina fall and edna candy i5 two men. bertie ahern is from fina fall and edna candy is from the other party. they were real rivals for most of this country's 101 other party. they were real rivals for most of this country's101 your existence, but the current government, for the first time is made up of those two parties in coalition together. that was a, akin, some said it would never happen, to democrats and republicans sharing power on q -- capitol happen, to democrats and republicans sharing power on q -— capitol hill it was that sei5mic of a moment.

while not very ideologically far apart both would say they are both probably of the political centre. they grew out of factions and from the irish civil war. that happened a century ago was basically around the circumstances, the conditions of ireland's independence of the rivalry between the parties is very, very intense indeed. but not for the first time they are governing ireland together. the current taoiseach, leo varadkar succeeded enda kenny, there on the left is the leader and his deputy in the government micheal martin, the foreign minister, is the current minister of fianna fail in under this coalition agreement they agree to rotate the top position of taoiseach and micheal martin was taoiseach and micheal martin was taoiseach and micheal martin was taoiseach and handed over voluntarily in december two enda kenny. so that was a sign of change

time5 kenny. so that was a sign of change times in irish politics. and it was the party formally led by the man on the party formally led by the man on the right, gerry adams who is the main opposition party. sinn fein leading out leading the opposition and many think they could well be leaving the irish government for the first time after the next iri5h general election. but for now this is a moment where most of the parties in the irish parliament are coming togetherfor a moment parties in the irish parliament are coming together for a moment of national unity, as it were to listen to president biden�*5 addre55. national unity, as it were to listen to president biden�*5 address. to to president biden's address. to interrupt you briefly as you did such a brilliantjob of explaining the history behind the pictures that we are seeing. i should say to viewers that arejoining we are seeing. i should say to viewers that are joining us that you're watching on bbc news president biden has arrived to the irish parliament. his cavalcade iri5h parliament. his cavalcade arrived around 1015 minutes ago and he is meeting and greeting people behind the scenes and we do expect him very shortly to arrive into the chamber. and to give this address. a5 chamber. and to give this address. as we've been talking about, and

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. chri5, 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 ju5t visit to northern ireland which ended just over 24 hours ago, people made the observation that peace in northern ireland is not perfect. there are still some paramilitary groups who are active there. there are certainly political instability, the power sharing the ball government 5et the power sharing the ball government set up under the

agreement has not been on offer more