— is extremely eager that the stormont assembly and executive get up and running _ assembly andp and running once more. he had no way to compel— running once more. he had no way to compel anyone to do that and he stephanie — compel anyone to do that and he stephanie was not lecturing politicians but he was using the incentive — politicians but he was using the incentive of economic investment saying _ incentive of economic investment saying the — incentive of economic investment saying the us is eager to bring financial— saying the us is eager to bring financial assistance to northern ireland — financial assistance to northern ireland to tap the vast economic potential— ireland to tap the vast economic potential but making it very clear that not — potential but making it very clear that not just peace potential but making it very clear that notjust peace but stability are important because it's for that and death— are important because it's for that and death the power shading government was up and running and could _ government was up and running and could he _ government was u

the stormont assembly is clearly one issue. sides that are still using violence to express themselves. that's unacceptable. you have some social economic challenges that need to be addressed. all of these are still ongoing. the best thing that could happen is if you could get the political parties to stand up stormont so the people of northern ireland to get the type of society that they deserve. you ireland to get the type of society that they deserve.— ireland to get the type of society that they deserve. you are part of a task force that _ that they deserve. you are part of a task force that looks _ that they deserve. you are part of a task force that looks to _ that they deserve. you are part of a task force that looks to tackle - task force that looks to tackle paramilitary activity in northern ireland, and i wonder, given what we've seen recently, a huge security cordon in place for this visit — but this yesterday, we saw flare—ups of violence and parts of derry. how would you assess where we are now in northern ireland?

stormont assembly still suspended, still disagreements about the outcome of the framework and post—brexitts. how important is it for business to get a resolution and get business and politicians back to work. it is a resolution and get business and politicians back to work.— politicians back to work. it is a key issue- _ politicians back to work. it is a key issue. we _ politicians back to work. it is a key issue. we need _ politicians back to work. it is a key issue. we need stability i politicians back to work. it is a i key issue. we need stability and politicians back to work. it is a - key issue. we need stability and it is key to have parties back as quickly as possible to bring the certainty. we were very fortunate thatjoe kennedy has been appointed as an economic adviser and i had the opportunity to engage withjoe in washington and business groups will be meeting him this week so number of ideas we think would help improve the northern ireland economy from that but we need parties back in stormont to create the political stability. stormont to create the political stabili . ., ~ ,

those challenges| right now, the stormont assembly still suspended, still disagreement over the outcomet is it it for a business to get a resolution there and to get business and politicians back to work? it is a key issue. _ politicians back to work? it is a key issue, ben. _ politicians back to work? it is a key issue, ben. we _ politicians back to work? it is a key issue, ben. we need - politicians back to work? it is a i key issue, ben. we need political stability in northern ireland. it is key that we have the party is back in stormont as quickly as possible to bring that to the building and bring a certainty. we are very fortunate that we have joe bring a certainty. we are very fortunate that we havejoe kennedy who has been appointed as the... to northern ireland, and i have the opportunity to engage with him. we will be meeting joe later on this week. we will meet with a number of asks an idea that we think will improve the economy even further. we do need the parties back in stormont to create that political stability. while joe to create that political stability. whilejoe biden

in contrast to what we saw in previous days, of course the stormont assembly suspended.as some frustration perhaps that he wasn't able to speak with politicians there. this feels very different on this leg of the trip. it there. this feels very different on this leg of the trip.— this leg of the trip. it does feel very different. _ this leg of the trip. it does feel very different. and _ this leg of the trip. it does feel very different. and i _ this leg of the trip. it does feel very different. and i say - this leg of the trip. it does feel. very different. and i say actually he looks a lot more relaxed in this part of the visit. but i think perhaps we don't have the political sensitivities here in the republic of ireland like we do in northern ireland at the moment. stormont isn't functioning. he was invited to speak at stormont but he declined, thatis speak at stormont but he declined, that is because essentially stormont is mothballed at the moment, politicians are not working there. but he has decided to accept the invitation to speak at the irish parliament. and lo

so there should be a power—sharing assembly based here at stormont on the outskirts of belfast, but then operating for more than a year — the result of the latest of many political crises we've seen over the last quarter of a century, the latest one being about unionists' concerns about brexit trading arrangements for northern ireland. but the focus has been on progress in the last few days — while political instability is continuing, political violence is now relatively rare. you can expect the british and irish governments to expect to keep that theme going as president biden prepares to fly in to northern ireland for a visit to mark the anniversary. the white house has said that the president feels a personal connection to the peace deal. he's a president who, perhaps more than any other in recent times, has spoken often of his irish roots, and he is said to be very excited to come and see for himself the benefits that the good friday agreement has brought to northern ireland. we'll have more on president biden�*s visit in a moment. but as chris mentioned, political violence in north

stormont, but the democratic unionist party is currently blocking power—sharing in protest against post—brexit trading arrangements. live now to our ireland correspondent chris page. the politicians aren't sitting in the assemblyter. that's right. the westminster _ westminster. that's right. the westminster government - westminster. that's right. the westminster government said | westminster. that's right. the. westminster government said it shouldn't have been setting a budget at all for this part of the uk but it had no option because there is no devolved, regional, government in northern ireland. the power—sharing assembly based at stormont, just outside belfast, hasn't been sitting for more than one year because of a dispute over how brexit has turned out for northern ireland. the minute the dup who wants northern ireland to remain part of the uk is exercising is a veto on the formation of a power—sharing coalition because he believes the current brexit trading relations mounted economic border between northern ireland and great britain which undermines their place in the united kingdom. the westminster government and london has stepping to set the budget and government departments in northern ireland have

i'm lucy hockings live at the northern ireland assembly in stormont where we'll assess the political reaction to the president's visit. joe biden has now moved on the republic of ireland where he will explore his family's roots. in other news: a difficult few months elon musk talks exclusively to the bbc about troubled times at twitter. and a royal return prince harry confirms he will attend his father's coronation but his wife is staying at home. welcome to bbc news. we start with president biden who's arrived in the irish capital dublin. earlier he made an impassioned defence of the good friday agreement in belfast 25 years after it was signed. he was greeted on the tarmac at dublin airport by the irish taoieseach leo varadkar. the pair then left in a motorcade, heading for co louth after the bad weather halted plans for the president to travel by helicopter. it's been a busy, busy day for the us president. it started with a meeting with rishi sunak both expressing their hope that power sharing can be restored. joe biden also met the leaders of the five main parties off camera he s

the president won't be visiting the northern ireland assembly in stormont during his trip.blished as a result of the good friday agreement, but it's currently not functioning since the democratic unionist party withdrew its support in protest at post—brexit trading arrangements. biden acknowledged the differences but said he hoped power—sharing would resume. thousands of famliies have been affected by the troubles, the pain was real. every person killed left an empty chair at a dining room table and a hole in the heart that was never filled for the ones they lost. peace was not inevitable, we cant ever forget that, there was nothing inevtitable about it. as george mitchell often said, the negotiations had 700 days of failure and one day of success. but they kept going because george and others never stopped believing that success was possible. i want to talk you to live pictures now where we saw i want to talk you to live pictures now where we sanoe biden and hunter biden and his sister. and the irish prime minister. he has now arrived in dundalk. you can see the beast ther

if they look at that building behind you and that stormont assembly, and they look at what the politiciansow, given that stalemate we are seeing? now, given that stalemate we are seeinu ? . ., , , now, given that stalemate we are seeina? . . , , ., now, given that stalemate we are seeina? . . , ,.,, , seeing? there certainly is a sense of disillusionment _ seeing? there certainly is a sense of disillusionment with _ seeing? there certainly is a sense of disillusionment with politics - seeing? there certainly is a sense of disillusionment with politics i l of disillusionment with politics i would say in general in northern ireland. you hear people wondering out loud if the divisions of the past will ever really be in the past if northern ireland is basically a place where there is always going to be a level of political dysfunction. talking to people who were born around the time of the good friday agreement, it seems to me that they have very different perspectives on the place they live now compared with previous generations. for example, speaking recently to to 25—year—olds whose birthda

the president won't be visiting the northern ireland assembly in stormont during his trip.he good friday agreement but it's currently not functioning since the democratic unionist party withdrew its support in protest at post—brexit trading arrangements. he acknowledged the differences but said he hoped power—sharing would resume. now, i know the uk's departure from the european union created complex challenges here in northern ireland. and i encourage the leaders of the uk and the eu to address the issues in a way that serves northern ireland's best interest. i deeply appreciate the personal leadership of prime minister sunak and european commissioner von der leyen to reach an agreement. the windsor framework addresses a practical reality of brexit and is an essential step to ensuring hard earned peace and progress of the good friday agreement that they are preserved and strengthened. that was the president speaking, he spoke for 25 minutes. i will get more from our guest any moment but i will break away momentarily from that to give you a line of important breaking news t

i'm lucy hockings live at the northern ireland assembly in stormont where we'll assess the politicalusively to the bbc about troubled times at twitter. and a royal return prince harry confirms he will attend his father's coronation but his wife is staying at home.

obviously the stormont para sharing assembly has not been reinstated. it's still not functioning. how do you think that president biden's trip could potentially help? i think that's a little bit of disappointment here in northern ireland from people, particularly those who would support the president's visit that is not doing more here. there's a real sense that u. s presidents have played a very big role here in helping bring the peace and shape and shape the peace here was president bill clinton, who sent over his former senator george mitchell. to be the chairperson of those peace talks, and it was really senator mitchell that managed to get the talks to the positive conclusion they came to. so president biden here who's going to do a ribbon cutting ceremony and give a speech at ulster university here, and it's expected to focus on education and employment and jobs in the economy, and that is hugely important here because the good friday agreement brought peace, but of course, everyone looked for the peace, dividend, the economic benefits and some of that has come but the real

he also expressed his desire to see the stormont assembly functioning again . g. iti gtie you know, i feel like i'm- presenting. so before we get on to feel like i'm presenting with hugh grant from notting hill, you know, the sort of bumbling toff, i love it because tonight we're going go, i'll do the we're going to go, i'll do the bumbling. i'm sure about bumbling. i'm not sure about eewtetee— bumbling. i'm not sure about eewtetee etee. — bumbling. i'm not sure about anything else. ilove- “3 i'm not sure about anything else. “fitti iti anything else. i love it. we're going to north going to go to north lanarkshire. we're going to meet the in his the last man left in his deserted estate. he says he's going nowhere won't going nowhere and he won't be moved after spending £2,000 on redecorating and just redecorating his place and just after 9:00, we'll head to birmingham, where the prince and princess of wales will meet leaders from the city's creative and arts industries . keep your and arts industries. keep your emails and arts industries. keep your emette eemee

and other matters still unresolved full stop northern ireland does not have a sitting assembly at the moment, stormontome republican or critical overjoe biden's trip over here last week, but if you ask them about the first day of the trip in belfast, a lot of republicans feel ownership for good friday agreement and took that part of it very seriously?— and took that part of it very seriousl ? ~ , ,., , ., , and took that part of it very seriousl ? ~ ,,., , .,, , seriously? absolutely. it was very historic. seriously? absolutely. it was very historic- my _ seriously? absolutely. it was very historic. my self, _ seriously? absolutely. it was very historic. my self, i— seriously? absolutely. it was very historic. my self, i have _ seriously? absolutely. it was very historic. my self, i have been - seriously? absolutely. it was very historic. my self, i have been in i historic. my self, i have been in northern— historic. my self, i have been in northern ireland, i cannot believe going _ northern ireland, i cannot believe going 25_ northern ireland, i cannot believe going 25 years ago... is an issue republ

.# the anniversary was officially marked last week, in a stormont where the devolved executive and assemblyently sitting. the democratic unionist party is refusing to go into government over brexit arrangements. the prime minister, though, is looking forward. rishi sunak paid tribute to those who signed the agreement, saying... "we will celebrate those who took difficult decisions, accepted compromise, and showed leadership." and he said... the promise made in 1998 was one of economic opportunity, prosperity, and stability. "it is a promise we must continue to fulfil," he said, "so we must get on with the business of governance." and there's a reminder that the threat from paramilitaries continues. there was some trouble at an annual dissident republican parade on easter monday last year. police have warned of the potential for more serious violence this year. very strong community intelligence specifically coming forward in respect of monday's events in derry/londonderry, and a real concern that there may be attempts to draw police in to serious public disorder, and to use that then as a p

the anniversary was officially marked last week at stormont by the devolved executive and assembly aren'tist party refusing to go to government over arrangements. the prime minister looking forward to you sooner pay tribute to those who signed the agreement saying we will celebrate those who took difficult decisions accepted compromise and show leadership. he said the comments made in 1998 was one of economic opportunity... there is a reminder the threat from paramilitaries continue, there pa ramilitaries continue, there was paramilitaries continue, there was some trouble at an annual republican parade on easter monday last year, police have warned of the risk of more serious violence this year. very strong intelligence coming forward in terms of events in derry and londonderry and concern there may be attempts to draw police into serious public disorder and use that as a platform to launch terrorist attacks on police, going into the operation that is something clearly right at the forefront of my mind in the minds of the commanders and officers as well. �* , ., , ., well. after 25 years

the anniversary was officially marked last week in a stormont where the devolved executive and assemblyime minister, though, is looking forward. rishi sunak paid tribute to those who signed the agreement, saying, "we will celebrate those who took difficult decisions, "accepted compromise and showed leadership." and he said the promise made in 1998 was one of economic opportunity, prosperity and stability. "it is a promise we must continue to fulfil," he said. "so we must get on with the business of governance." but after 25 years of relative peace, the focus is on a deal that started a work in progress with the us government having played a key role in the good friday agreement talks, a visit to belfast tomorrow by presidentjoe biden will mark the anniversary. louise cullen, bbc news. well, our correspondent charlotte gallagher is also in belfast, and she has more. the big news in town at the moment, of course, is the us president, joe biden. he�*s arriving in belfast on tuesday night. he�*s going to spend part of wednesday here as well, going to a new university campus meeting with ris

what you're looking at here is stormont — that's where the northern ireland assembly sits. brexit agreement known as the northern ireland protocol. the move meant the northern ireland executive couldn't meet, and ministers couldn't take decisions. a stalemate. in may, an election saw nationalist party sinn fein take majority for the first time. from those results, this woman, michelle 0'neil, should have been appointed first minister. but sinn fein cannot take up power until the dup names a deputy. and for now it's refusing to do so. for that reason the assembly cannot sit. president biden directly addressed this. let's hearfrom him once more. a government that works to find ways through hard problems together is going to draw even greater opportunity in this region. so i hope the asembly and the executive will still be at domont, that is a judgement for you, at domont, that is a judgement foryou, not at domont, that is a judgement for you, not me, at domont, that is a judgement foryou, not me, but at domont, that is a judgement for you, not me, but i hope that happens. ——

assembly. what happens with that building at stormont?do wonder, what do you think? do you think the assembly should restart? give me your thoughts . restart? give me your thoughts. farage at gb news .uk. restart? give me your thoughts. farage at gb news .uk . well, farage at gb news .uk. well, let's go to stormont right now and be joined by dougie beattie , our northern ireland reporter dougie, good evening. thanks thanks for coming on just tell me, do we actually know what joe biden will be doing over the course of the next couple of days ? very little, it seems he days? very little, it seems he nos— days? very little, it seems he nos one— :�* very little, it seems he has one engagement in northern ireioni— has one engagement in northern ireland tomorrow,— has one engagement in northern ireland tomorrow, and that is in the ireland tomorrow, and that is in ine universiiy— ireland tomorrow, and that is in the university of— ireland tomorrow, and that is in the university of ulster. before he the university of ulster. before ne is— the uni

as joe biden heads towards northern ireland, we ask is it time that stormont, the assembly restarted?

and unionists will now not go back in to the stormont executive or the assembly because they believeing to, we believe , one state opening of a believe, one state opening of a university in the university of ulster campus in belfast and then leaving and going south of then leaving and going south of the border and one perhaps takes the border and one perhaps takes the view that because of the various significant warnings as they've described them, the secret service details are not wanting him to be out in public that much. but do we have an iniieorion— that much. but do we have an indication about— that much. but do we have an indication about what- ”.j�*if but do we have an indication about what he might be rrying— indication about what he might be rrying ro— indication about what he might be rrying o oo— indication about what he might be trying to do behind the scenes politically in terms of moving— scenes politically in terms of moving inis— scenes politically in terms of moving this process onwards and maybe— moving this process onwards and maybe-snoring- moving this process onw

has he spoken about getting stormont back up and rather dumb at running? i would love to see the assemblyis trade or economic investment. they've got to have these discussions,... there's only one political is holding up the process, does the present have a particular message to the dup? the present have a particular message to the dup? , , �* , present have a particular message to the dup? , , �*, , , the dup? the president's message is reall one the dup? the president's message is really one of— the dup? the president's message is really one of congratulations - the dup? the president's message is really one of congratulations for - really one of congratulations for the 25th anniversary of the good friday agreement, and two, let's look for continued opportunities now for deeper investment between our two countries into economies. again, those kinds of investments are easier to be heart and fulfilled when there is poetical stability. how personally doesjoe biden feel his involvement in the good friday agreement? he his involvement in the good friday agreement?— his involvement in the goo

also problems do remain, for example, this building behind me, at stormont, should be the home of the power—sharing regional assembly, but that's assembly hasn't been functioning for more than a year because of the latest political crisis here. the biggest unionist party, the party that wants to keep northern ireland in the uk, the democratic unionists, they are vetoing the operation of the assembly, because of their opposition to brexit trading arrangements for northern ireland. when you look at the last quarter—century, they have not been operating for more than ten of those 25 years. the peace process has by and large been successful, political violence is relatively rare here now. the political process certainly has not been as successful. that said, if you ask most people in northern ireland if they would take the way northern ireland is today, if they were offered at 25 years ago in comparison with what was going on then, i imagine most people would say, guess they would. in then, i imagine most people would say, guess they would.— say, guess they would. in that sense, absolutely _ say, guess they would. in th

the prime minister is calling for the return of the stormont assembly as marks a 25th assembly as hepower sharing restored and is urging politicians to get on with the business of governance. he's also praised the bravery of the leaders who secured the deal. the prime minister will host us president joe biden in belfast tomorrow to commemorate the event. former leader of the alliance party of northern ireland, lord john allerdyce, says differences must be resolved at nick hewer . resolved at nick hewer. mediating in the x mediating in the middle of resolved at nick hewer. - mediating in the middle of and ener— mediating in the middle of and after a— mediating in the middle of and after a nnge— mediating in the middle of and after a huge long, violent eenpngn— after a huge long, violent campaign is— after a huge long, violent campaign is far more difficult a...— campaign is far more difficult a... ne— campaign is far more difficult than the process— campaign is far more difficult than the process of negotiating now:— than the process of negotiating now, we should— than the process of

as joe biden heads towards northern ireland, we ask is it time that stormont, the assembly restarted?iden, to mark the president, joe biden, to mark tne zttn— president, joe biden, to mark the 25th anniversary of the good tattaw— the 25th anniversary of the good friday agreement.— the 25th anniversary of the good friday agreement. when we turn our friday agreement. when we turn attenttan— friday agreement. when we turn our attention now— friday agreement. when we turn our attention now to israel , our attention now to israel, wnete— our attention now to israel, wnete tne— our attention now to israel, where the mother of two british tstaett —

the anniversary was officially marked last week in a stormont where the devolved executive and assemblyrrently sitting. the democratic unionist party is refusing to go into government over brexit arrangements. the prime minister, though, is looking forward. rishi sunak paid tribute to those who signed the agreement, saying, "we will celebrate those who took difficult decisions, accepted compromise, and showed leadership." and he said the promise made in 1998 was one of economic opportunity, prosperity, and stability. "it is a promise we must continue to fulfil," he said, "so we must get on with the business of governance." and there's a reminder that the threat from paramilitaries continues. there was some trouble at an annual dissident republican parade on easter monday last year. police have warned of the potential for more serious violence this year. very strong community intelligence specifically coming forward in respect of monday's events in derry/londonderry and a real concern that there may be attempts to draw police in to serious public disorder. and to use that then as a platf

stormont. the president was invited to address the northern ireland assembly macro but the invitation was not acceptede and underscore america's continuing commitment to the peace process in northern ireland. that is the emphasis the british and irish governments will be trying to place on the presidential visit over the coming days when president biden comes first to northern ireland and then across the border to the republic of ireland for few days. the time is 13:17. our top story this lunchtime... junior doctors in england, demanding a 35% pay rise, start a four—day strike. the government says their demands are unaffordable. and still to come — 1 million smokers will be given free vaping kits to encourage them to give up tobacco products. coming up on the bbc news channel: with 100 days to go until the fifa women's world cup, organisers say they are on course to sell a record 1.5 million tickets for the event, which takes place across australia and new zealand. ukraine says that landmines laid since the invasion by russia last year covers territory roughly the size of england, wales and northern i

assembly to address. it would be ridiculous going to stormont and talking to an empty room or a room peoplejust turned uphem up to listen to a speech when they are not there in theirjobs. i am afraid you can't blamejoe biden for that. that is because the institutions in northern ireland are not running. i think that is a pity. but anyway, you have to make changes as you go. i am very familiar with the nuance —— with the new ulster university building in belfast, it is a beautiful location, the city centre, the heart of belfast. and it is a good place for president biden to make his address and hopefully to meet some of the party leaders. belfast has a lot of promise and a good future. and i think what the american president can say is that he can put his weight behind further economic investment. belfast is fast becoming a place for artificial intelligence. more investment will help morejobs. particularly into the areas that are less affluent and areas that have maybe not got as much investment or innovation. you have already — much investment or innovation. you have already touched on some of the things

stormont. the democratic unionist party is blocking the power—sharing assembly from sitting in protest againstnt to get into the detail of the political difficulties that have beset northern ireland in recent times. i think what he will do is talk up the positive, the fact that we've had 25 years of peace, the fact that northern ireland's a much better place now than it was 25 years ago. the only public events of president biden's visit to belfast will be held here. he'll formally open ulster university's new campus in the city centre, a statement in itself that he wants to encourage northern ireland to keep building peace for the sake of its young people. the two governments and the political parties of northern ireland have reached agreement. the 25th anniversary of the good friday agreement is giving a voice to a new generation. the good friday agreement, i was born 11 days afterwards, after it was put together. so i've always lived a life where i've been surrounded in peace. i got to go to an integrated education school, and yeah, we just haven't had to experience the level of violence tha

stormont. the democratic unionist party is blocking the power—sharing assembly from sitting in protest againstt trade barriers with the rest of the uk. president biden will meet local politicians, but it's likely to be brief. he doesn't want to get into the detail of the political difficulties that have beset northern ireland in recent times. i think what he will do is talk up the positive, the fact that we've had 25 years of peace, the fact that northern ireland's a much better place now than it was 25 years ago. the only public events of president biden�*s visit to belfast will be held here. he'll formally open ulster university's new campus in the city centre, a statement in itself that he wants to encourage northern ireland to keep building peace for the sake of its young people. the two governments and the political parties of northern ireland have reached agreement. the 25th anniversary of the good friday agreement is giving a voice to a new generation. the good friday agreement, i was born 11 days afterwards, after it was put together. so i've always lived a life where i've been surroun

another stormont comes back effort does the dup once publishing then that could be another conversation in the assembly, involving the governments to look at how a future star might collapse can be not prevented a list made a lot more unlikely.— made a lot more unlikely. pleasant biden has arrived, _ made a lot more unlikely. pleasant biden has arrived, gone _ made a lot more unlikely. pleasant biden has arrived, gone in - made a lot more unlikely. pleasant biden has arrived, gone in through | made a lot more unlikely. pleasant. biden has arrived, gone in through a side entrance to the university. how do you assess the atmosphere around this trip. do you assess the atmosphere around this tri -. ., ., this trip. there are two perspectives, - this trip. there are two perspectives, people i this trip. there are two i perspectives, people who this trip. there are two - perspectives, people who are this trip. there are two _ perspectives, people who are very welcoming of the fact a us president is in northern ireland, we have had many— is in northern ireland, we have had many others — is in northern ireland

together to govern the province , sharing power in an province, sharing power in an assembly and an executive at stormontt this week, the terrorism threat level in northern ireland was raised from substantial to severe , meaning substantial to severe, meaning that an attack is highly likely. the move based on an m15 intelligence assessment, shows a rise . it follows a rise in rise. it follows a rise in dissident republican activity , dissident republican activity, including in particular the shooting of detective chief inspector john caldwell. it reverses a downgrade in the northern ireland's threat level last year, which was the first change for 12 years. the united states president, joe biden, is strongly rumoured to be planning to visit northern ireland to mark the 25th anniversary. and former president bill clinton and his wife hillary are also expected. how muted will or expected. but how muted will or should the celebrations be given the threat level? and given that devolved government in the province is suspended ? in province is suspended? in a moment, we'll talk. province is suspended? in a mome

assembly and the executive will soon be restored. that's a judgment for you to make that me and i hope it happens. it's here the seat of devolve government, stormont, where power should be shared between nationalists and eunice. the democratic unionist party, the d u p, walked out in protest at post breakfast, trading restrictions more than a year ago and its leader doesn't show any sign of changing position despite the presidential warning. so despite something really, when you think about it, the president of the u. s. not any pointing the finger at northern ireland and saying in a ye, me to work harder, especially elected representatives. it's a sort of point i have hon always send democracies are and how and that requires let ship census to take up their responsibilities. people in northern ireland are divided about the u. s. president. many union, this se his visit is more like a stop over on his way to the republic of ireland. no walk about for joe biden, because security is so heavy. but that's not the reason for the shortness of the shed. you. only 16 hours in northern ireland, and only a brief meeting over coffee with the u. k. prime mini

the presidents visit that cannot be a moment of triumph and smiles at stormont, the usual home of northern ireland in the assembly_ the president of the republic. tony blair was essential to the good friday agreement was asked about the role of the bill clinton played in 1997 in 1998 and he said, it was bill clinton's understanding of how to influence the process but not to pressure the parties involved. there is a lesson in that forjoe biden, isn't there?— isn't there? yes, there's no question — isn't there? yes, there's no question that _ isn't there? yes, there's no question that the _ isn't there? yes, there's no | question that the americans isn't there? yes, there's no - question that the americans were intricately involved in the good friday agreement. both bill clinton visited northern ireland in 1995 laid the groundwork, much of the groundwork for the agreement eventually being signed and his envoy was one of those was going from room to room of my house on both sides of the divided northern ireland and bringing things together. but yes, one of the great hallmarks of the good friday agreement is the ambi

stormont. that means there will be no big plenary session between the president and the five main parties here in the northern ireland assemblyfully because the dup, it is up to them to decide if they go back into power—sharing and they regard him as overly sympathetic to nationalists. while there is some hope in the government that the dup will go back in, they were encouraged byjeffrey donaldson the other day, chris heaton—harris said at the weekend he thinks that a deal can be done but this party is divided so no one is making any assumptions about what they might do. why do some teenagers stop eating? so suddenly and drastically that they are admitted to hospital within months? anorexia is a mental illness still misunderstood — described by some as a condition that affects "silly girls who go to private school". journalist and writer hadley freeman stopped eating aged 16 in the 19905 and she's written a book — good girls — a story and study of anorexia. she's been talking to me about what led to her developing the illness. so i was sitting in pe and i looked at my legs and i looked at the legs of the girl next to me and s

sections we have within stormont, for so long there were these two massive — for so long there were these two massive blocks of unionists versus nationalists. now, at the last assemblyesults last year, we saw the rise of the cross community alliance party, who designate as other stuff they would say they— designate as other stuff they would say they don't pertain to green or orange _ say they don't pertain to green or orange sectarian divides, they are about— orange sectarian divides, they are about trying to make northern ireland — about trying to make northern ireland look to the future. that is what _ ireland look to the future. that is what has — ireland look to the future. that is what has brought them hoards of younger— what has brought them hoards of younger voters who will say, we just want to _ younger voters who will say, we just want to move on from these different arguments _ want to move on from these different ara uments. , ., ., arguments. does that mean the agreement _ arguments. does that mean the agreement is — arguments. does that mean the agreement is not _ arguments. does that mean the agreement is not fit _ arguments. does that mean the agreeme