US President Joe Biden has welcomed the return of power-sharing in Northern Ireland after Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill became the first nationalist First Minister in the region's history on Saturday, February 3.
Biden, who reaffirmed his support for Northern Ireland during a visit to the region in April 2023, praised political leaders for restoring power-sharing for the first time in almost two years.
"I welcome and strongly support the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly at Stormont, and I commend the political leaders of Northern Ireland for taking the necessary steps to restore these core institutions," Biden said in a statement.
Northern Ireland's power-sharing institutions were frozen for almost two years due to a DUP protest over post-Brexit trade agreements.
The DUP had boycotted Stormont over claims that the Northern Ireland Protocol threatened Northern Ireland's position within the United Kingdom but ended the boycott last week following the passage of legislation in the House of Commons that removed routine checks on British goods being sold to consumers in Northern Ireland.
Biden was among several Irish American politicians to welcome the return of power-sharing in Northern Ireland.
Elsewhere, Congressman Richard Neal, the head of the Friends of Ireland Caucus in US Congress, congratulated O'Neill on her historic appointment as First Minister and said the election of a nationalist First Minister is the result of people in Northern Ireland making their voices heard.
"I would like to congratulate Michelle O’Neill on her election to serve as First Minister of Northern Ireland – the first Irish Nationalist leader in history to hold the seat," Neal said in a statement.
"This is the result of two successive elections in which the people of Northern Ireland made their voices heard. After two years of delays, parties will once again sit in government and resume the people’s business."
Congratulations to Michelle O’Neill on her election to serve as First Minister of Northern Ireland - the first Irish nationalist leader in history to hold the seat. The people made their voices heard in two successive elections, & now the parties can resume the people’s business. https://t.co/3jRXsDVMfN
— Rep. Richard Neal (@RepRichardNeal) February 3, 2024
Congressman Brendan Boyle also congratulated O'Neill on her appointment and additionally congratulated Northern Ireland's MLAs for trying to "make power-sharing work."
"Congratulations to @moneillsf who today makes history in becoming the first ever nationalist elected First Minister of Northern Ireland. I also congratulate all those who have chosen to take up their seats in the NI Assembly and try to make power-sharing work," Boyle said in a statement on X on Saturday.
Congratulations to @moneillsf who today makes history in becoming the first ever nationalist elected First Minister of Northern Ireland. I also congratulate all those who have chosen to take up their seats in the NI Assembly and try to make power sharing work.
— US Rep Brendan Boyle (@RepBrendanBoyle) February 3, 2024
The Ancient Order of Hibernians, the oldest and largest Irish Cathlic organization in the US, also issued a statement congratulating O'Neill, describing her appointment as First Minister as a "transformative step for Northern Irish democracy."
"This pivotal development of the appointment of the first First Minister from a nationalist background and the resumption of the democratic institutions of governance after two years of boycott by those resistant to democratic change represents a significant stride toward reconciliation and inclusivity in Northern Irish politics," the AOH said in a statement.
"This historic achievement, transcending political divisions, signifies transformative progress towards inclusive governance and equal representation, reflecting the collective hopes for a harmonious future among all Northern Irish communities."
AOH President Danny O'Connell described the appointment as a "monumental achievement."
"Today marks a monumental achievement that would have seemed unlikely just a few years ago: the appointment of a representative from an Irish nationalist party as the First Minister of Northern Ireland," O'Connell said.
Speaking after her appointment on Saturday, O'Neill said unionist identity in Northern Ireland was important to her, adding that she will be "inclusive and respectful" during her time in office.
"To all of you who are British, unionist; Your national identity, culture, and traditions are important to me."
O'Neill said the days of "second-class citizenship" in Northern Ireland are gone, adding that her appointment as First Minister confirms that they are "never coming back".
Meanwhile, the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly was appointed Deputy First Minister on Saturday and said there was now an opportunity to improve Northern Ireland for the better.
She said Northern Ireland can only secure a prosperous future if nationalist and unionist communities work together and said many families on both sides of the political divide face similar problems.
"It is those shared problems that are blighting too many lives, that we can work constructively, urgently together to improve," Little-Pengelly said.
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