DUP MP urges President Biden not to push for increased Dublin role in Northern Ireland affairs

The DUP MP for East Belfast was commenting in response Mr Biden’s remarks that the UK should work more closely with the Republic of Ireland to support Northern Ireland.

Speaking in the Dail on Thursday, the US President said there are “literally hundreds of American corporations ready to come and invest but they are cautious because the institutions are not in place.”

He also said the Belfast Agreement has changed lives in Northern Ireland for the better and has also had a “significant positive impact across the Republic of Ireland as well”.

Irish foreign minister Micheal Martin said Mr Biden’s call for more cooperation between the two governments should be viewed as ”a general exhortation to all of us to work together”.

However, Gavin Robinson responded saying: “President Biden keeps talking about his support for, and understanding of, the Belfast Agreement, but he needs to recognise that joint authority forms no part of it.”

Earlier on Friday, Mr Martin also said that be believed a speech by the president in Belfast on Wednesday could potentially help the political atmosphere in Northern Ireland, where the power-sharing institutions at Stormont are currently suspended.

Asked about Mr Biden’s comments on the RTE Morning Ireland programme, Mr Martin said: "I take that as a general exhortation to all of us to work together.

"I am pleased with Prime Minister [Rishi] Sunak, [Northern Ireland Secretary] Chris Heaton-Harris, there is a closer engagement already over the last while, that could get closer.

"I think the context was clear from the president, he was speaking in the context of all of us.

"He mentions the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Ireland."

The Tanaiste added: "The Good Friday Agreement really depends on the very close relationship between the British Government and the Irish Government.

"That is the anchor to the peace, the anchor to future relationships."

A number of events have been taking place in Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

However, the Stormont power-sharing Assembly, the cornerstone of the peace deal, remains suspended due to DUP concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements.

During an address in Belfast on Wednesday, Mr Biden said he hoped the institutions would soon return.

Mr Martin said: "I think his remarks will be helpful in terms of the atmosphere, in terms of the next number of weeks and months.

"I think it will have served a purpose, in respect of that I have no doubt."

He added: "I think the president did get the balance right in terms of that speech, but also in terms of, we are giving time and space to the DUP in terms of their analysis of the Windsor Agreement; but there is no immediate sign yet (of a return to power-sharing at Stormont).

"But everybody, including the DUP, would acknowledge that the Windsor Agreement represents very significant progress.

"I think the people of Northern Ireland want the institutions back, of that I am clear, but I think the lessons we have all learnt from experience that it is better, as the president himself said, that people in the north come to the right conclusion, come to it themselves and make their mind up.

"All of the parties are very anxious to get the institutions restored."

Mr Martin also addressed comments earlier this week from former DUP leader Dame Arlene Foster that Joe Biden "hates" the UK.

On Wednesday, Dame Arlene told the GB News TV channel: "[Joe Biden] hates the United Kingdom, I don't think there's any doubt about that.

"I just think the fact that he is coming here won't put any pressure on the Democratic Unionist Party at all.

"Quite the reverse actually because he is seen by so many people as just simply pro republican and pro nationalist".

Mr Martin said: "I was very surprised by that comment.

"The one word that you do not associate with Joe Biden is the word hate."