On Thursday, amid his jam-packed day of activities, US President Joe Biden will address a joint sitting of both houses of the Oireachtas.
It has been confirmed that the speech will happen later today at around 3:45pm with Biden becoming the 14th person ever to do so.
As with other US Presidents' addresses, the Ceann Comhairle will introduce the guest, President Biden, who will speak and the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad will wrap things up.
READ MORE: Inside the five-star Dublin hotel where Joe Biden is staying during visit to Irish capital
That’s not all that makes this speech special, Biden will also be the fourth US president to address the Dáil, following JFK in 1963, Ronald Reagan in 1984 and Bill Clinton in 1995.
US National Security Council senior director Amanda Sloat told reporters that Biden’s address to TDs and senators will refer to areas of the close partnership between both countries and “setting out a shared vision for the future”.
Biden will be accompanied to the Irish Parliament by Marie Heaney, the widow of his favourite poet, Seamus Heaney.
Nine members of the US Congress, one senator as well as Mr Biden’s sister Valerie and son Hunter will attend the event, as well as former Irish president Mary McAleese, two former taoisigh, Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny, Northern Ireland political leaders and Larysa Gerasko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald has explained that while she does share concerns regarding aspects of US foreign policy, she stated that it would be wrong to boycott President Joe Biden’s address.
However, People Before Profit have announced that the party will boycott the special sitting with US President Joe Biden on Thursday.
Richard Boyd Barrett told The Irish Mirror that the party did not agree with the decision not to allow any of the Irish Government members to speak following President Biden’s speech.
Alongside the speech on Thursday morning a meeting with President Michael D Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain took place, where Biden, like many other visitors, rang the Peace Bell and planted a tree before moving on to nearby Farmleigh for discussions with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
You can watch the address live here.
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