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When baby Margot met Biden in the Dáil

The baby of a senator became an unexpected guest of honour in the Dáil after getting a special acknowledgement from the US president.

Ahead of an historic address to TDs and senators as part of Joe Biden's trip to the island of Ireland, the Dáil speaker drew attention to the young infant who was being held by her mother in the chamber.

As Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghail was reading out the list of distinguished guests in the room for the presidential address he mentioned one particularly young member of the audience.

"I think I must mention somebody else, Mr President, because it's just come to my attention that a very young observer is in attendance here today, and that is the daughter of Senator Rebecca Moynihan," he said.

US President Joe Biden holds Margot Moynihan, daughter of Labour Senator Rebecca Moynihan, at the Houses of the Oireachtas

The introduction was met with applause by parliamentarians as Ms Moynihan held up daughter Margo, dressed in a yellow outfit. She is almost eight weeks old.

MEPs Ciarán Cuffe and Frances Fitzgerald, sitting beside Ms Moynihan, laughed and applauded as Mr Ó Fearghail name checked the young guest.

"I do suspect that Margot's attendance here will go down in family folklore for many years to come," he said.

After beginning his address, Mr Biden apologised to Margot for having to listen to a policy speech by the US president, which he said his own children also had to endure.

"Margot, I apologise to you, little baby girl," he said.

After the speeches, the US President met baby Margot outside the Dáil chamber.

It was a day to remember for Ms Moynihan and her new arrival - and it ended with the journey home on the 26 bus.