U.S President Joe Biden has urged the UK government to work more closely with the Republic of Ireland in the wake of a new agreement over the border and calls for power sharing to return.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has been boycotting the Stormont assembly for over a year.
Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, there is cross-community power sharing at executive level, including the joint office of First Minister and deputy First Minister- one unionist and one nationalist with equal powers - and a multi-party executive.
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However, the DUP has refused to join the Stormont assembly, partially due to disagreements over the border in the wake of Britain's exit from the European Union.
A new arrangment, the so-called Windsor Framework, has been signed off by the UK government and the EU but the DUP voted against it.
President Biden, who is of Irish descent, has visited both Northern Ireland and the Republic this week, and addressed a joint sitting of the Dail and Seanad on Thursday.
Speaking to the Irish Parliament, Mr Biden told TDs and senators that “peace is precious” as he suggested the UK should be working more closely with the Republic of Ireland to support Northern Ireland.
“Peace is precious. It still needs its champions. It still needs to be nurtured.”
The Good Friday Agreement, he said, had a “significant positive impact across the Republic of Ireland as well”.
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Reflecting on discussions with the Taoiseach, he spoke of “how Ireland and the United states can work together with the United Kingdom and the European Union to support the people of Northern Ireland”.
“I think that the United Kingdom should be working closer with Ireland in this endeavour. Political violence must never be allowed again to take hold on this island.”
His remarks received applause from assembled politicians.
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