JOE BIDEN has pledged to help Ireland combat Covid-19 and reaffirmed his support for the Good Friday Agreement ahead of his virtual meeting with the Taoiseach on St Patrick’s Day.
The US President is set to reaffirm America’s “deep, historic partnership” with Ireland during a virtual meeting Micheál Martin, which will take the place of the Irish leader’s traditional trip to Washington.
Several issues are will be discussed during the historic first meeting of the two heads of state, with Martin set to ask Biden for help in securing more vaccine doses in Ireland’s fight against Covid-19.
The White House has issued a statement indicating the Irish-American leader is receptive to the idea.
It reads: "On Wednesday, March 17, President Joe Biden will host Micheál Martin, Taoiseach of Ireland, for a virtual bilateral meeting. They will reaffirm the deep, historic partnership and extraordinary people-to-people ties between the United States and Ireland.
“They will also discuss combatting Covid-19, addressing global challenges, increasing our shared prosperity, and supporting political and economic stability in Northern Ireland.
"Although the pandemic prevents the traditional White House celebration of St. Patrick’s Day this year, we look forward to marking this holiday and our close relationship with Ireland in a safe way."
(Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)The Taoiseach has come under pressure in recent weeks to ask Biden for help after Ireland’s vaccine rollout was hit with a series of supply issues related to the EU’s failure to procure enough doses of the AstraZeneca jab.
Biden is on course to make good on his promise of providing 600 million vaccine doses to the US public by the end of July – enough to inoculate the entire adult US population.
Martin has confirmed that the topic of vaccine supplies will be raised.
"We will have a discussion about COVID and vaccines with the President, of course, we’ll have that discussion," he told DublinLive.
"There is an ongoing discussion between Europe and the US and it is in that context I will have that discussion as well with the American President."
The US has stockpiled 30 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is still awaiting approval in the US.
