Tom Elliott says it is time for the Republic of Ireland to rejoin the Commonwealth.

[it'smyself]

I don't think Tom really cares whether the Republic joins the commonwealth, I think he just loves sniping at nationalists and this was just another opportunity he couldn't let pass. He has the sophistication of a Fermanagh farmer...

[DuineEile]

So you're saying that being a monarchy is a good rason for not having stronger links with a country, how does that apply to Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium etc?

Seriously is there a SINGLE good reason for not re-joining the Commonwealth/?

The best reason is because it is unnecessary.

Maybe we should join the Arab league, or the Warsaw Pact while we are at it.

D

[harshreality]

our top athletes could compete in the Commonwealth games ?
we would have stronger links with many nations we dont have now?

but on balance given most of those countries still have the Queen has head of state I dont think the pluses outweigh the minuses

Who is that, Eamonn Coghlan?

[Ex celt]

Who is that, Eamonn Coghlan?

Andy Townsend,actually.

[SKBAC]

I don't think Tom really cares whether the Republic joins the commonwealth, I think he just loves sniping at nationalists and this was just another opportunity he couldn't let pass. He has the sophistication of a Fermanagh farmer...

I think you have got it in one. Tom Eliot likes to stir the pot, because in his head this kind of nonsense is a blow for Ulster. He is a moron, supported only by morons.

[Roisin3]

we could have had a united ireland but Dev said no and thank god he did. the people of northern ireland dont want it, the people of the south certainly dont want it, the irish government dont want it, the british government despise it. so its safe to say ye are on yer own and only have yourselves to blame. personally i would be in favour of builing a wall along the border to keep these undesirables out. ye have acted like animals for far too long (especially republicans) and now you will sit on the naughty step until or if we ever decide to do anything with you. at present the north is like the embarassing drunken relation who you wished you didnt have. As the comments on this board perfectly show the people of the north have shown no remorse, so we wait and we can wait until eternity as it bothers noone in britian or in ireland

Kate, you're back. Welcome. But no poetry, no winding yarny storylines?

[Binze]

I would say in all probablity you or your predecesors never left the UK.Ireland didnt leave the UK for economic reasons it left because it wanted its independence.Anyway when we left the UK Ireland was in dire economic circumstances with the most piserable poor class in Europe.Today sees the so called poor enjoying some of the highest welfare rates in the World still in 2012 far ahead of anything in the UK.We may have our faults but I would say fine in the midst of the worst economic crisis since 1921 why dont you put your ideaz to the electorate and see how many of the peelers are actually left

The standard of living in Ireland, as a result of the celtic tiger bubble, was bought on credit. We are now expecting Germany to support our generous welfare state. I for one don't think it it can be sustained.
Perhaps you think that the Germans will be happy to to continue to pay dole to the Irish, where Germans will do a good days work for less.

If a referendum is held, to ask the Irish people if they want the country to be run in a proper manner, (by keeping government expenditure in line with tax receipts) or, do we give 2 fingers to Germany, as we did in 1916 to the UK, we will know the answer.
If the Irish people choose again to be an independent state, then we can all look forwards again to those miserable times in the 30's 50's though to the 90's, where we lived the Devalera utopian dream of living off the land, digging spuds and going to church.

[it'smyself]

I think you have got it in one. Tom Eliot likes to stir the pot, because in his head this kind of nonsense is a blow for Ulster. He is a moron, supported only by morons.

Yeah and he is supposedly the voice of moderate unionism, some hope.

[frjack]

The standard of living in Ireland, as a result of the celtic tiger bubble, was bought on credit. We are now expecting Germany to support our generous welfare state. I for one don't think it it can be sustained.
Perhaps you think that the Germans will be happy to to continue to pay dole to the Irish, where Germans will do a good days work for less.

If a referendum is held, to ask the Irish people if they want the country to be run in a proper manner, (by keeping government expenditure in line with tax receipts) or, do we give 2 fingers to Germany, as we did in 1916 to the UK, we will know the answer.
If the Irish people choose again to be an independent state, then we can all look forwards again to those miserable times in the 30's 50's though to the 90's, where we lived the Devalera utopian dream of living off the land, digging spuds and going to church.

I don't really see rejoining to be about the UK as we are both in the EU. the only benefit is helping to create more links to countries like Singapore, Australia, NZ, Canada, India, South Africa.

[Born Again Scouser]

Quite so. It wouldn't be up to the UK anyway. The Commonwealth has (I think) 54 members. I suspect most if not all of those countries would be delighted to see Ireland rejoin but there'd still have to be a vote.