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

[theloner]

Big Tom Elliott, the blast from the past, has urged the Republic of Ireland to rejoin the Commonwealth during a special assembly speech to mark the British Queen's 60th anniversary as the head of her state, and the 16 other countries that also recognize her as the head of state.

I think we would all agree that Tom, recently cleared of wrong doing by the Orange Order for attending Ronan Kerr's funeral, isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, however his proposal will be met with positivism by some in the Republic, arguing the fact that the EU has us in the mess we are in and joining the EU was one way of reducing the reliance on Britain, which incidentally is still our biggest trading partner.

We left the Commonwealth back in 1949 and obviously republicans and strong greens nationalists would find the idea of jumping back into the arms of our former (or current) colonial masters as a grave mistake and traitorous step in the opposite direction.

Personally I am dead set against it as it is a big step backwards for our relatively new Ireland. There is too much negative history in the context of Anglo-Irish relations to rejoin an exclusive club of nations that has a very dodgy history indeed, ranging from centuries of imperialistic invasion, exploitation, slavery, attempted genocide and brutal misrule, not to mention a head of state in the position due to their bloodline.

Last year there was also controversy over the fact that the Secretary General instructed staff not to speak out on human rights, coupled with the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group report that found the organisation had lost its 'relevance and was decaying due the lack of a mechanism to censure member countries when they violated human rights or democratic norms'. Among the Commonwealth states, 41 still outlaw homosexuality and forced marriage is the norm in some, so it seems the British Commonwealth doesn't practice what it preaches or it's a big dog with no bite, or both.

Anyway, what are the pros and cons of rejoining the Commonwealth of nations?

[Decko]

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

[toxic avenger]

If the British had been more imaginative and ran with Dev's Document 2 idea of External Association, as they later did with India, then we'd probably still be in. But they didn't and we aren't. If a united Ireland were on the table I'd be in favour of using Commonwealth membership as a bargaining chip, other than that I don't see a point.

[Warren Poynt]

Tell you what, Big Tom.........

Talk to your fellow Irishmen (and women) north of the Border, and engage with your fellow Irishmen (and women) south of the Border.

And if you can see eye to eye and do a deal, you're on !

How about it ?

See those nasty British Conservatives want nothing more to do with your party after their disastrous experience with the UCunfs.

Those ungrateful Tories, turning their backs on you like that !

Think about the above offer. No strings attached.

It could be a win/win situation for everybody.

P.S.: Try and go to the odd GAA match. If Peter Robinson can manage it, it should be no problem for you !

[Gracchus]

Be a waste to to join the commonwealth now. In the future it could become vital in appeasing unionist into joining a 32 county Ireland.

Still though it is the remnants of one of the most appalling empires in the history of man kind and we should avoid having any further association with it.

[Cruimh]

Big Tom Elliott, the blast from the past, has urged the Republic of Ireland to rejoin the Commonwealth during a special assembly speech to mark the British Queen's 60th anniversary as the head of her state, and the 16 other countries that also recognize her as the head of state.

I think we would all agree that Tom, recently cleared of wrong doing by the Orange Order for attending Ronan Kerr's funeral, isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, however his proposal will be met with positivism by some in the Republic, arguing the fact that the EU has us in the mess we are in and joining the EU was one way of reducing the reliance on Britain, which incidentally is still our biggest trading partner.

We left the Commonwealth back in 1949 and obviously republicans and strong greens nationalists would find the idea of jumping back into the arms of our former (or current) colonial masters as a grave mistake and traitorous step in the opposite direction.

Personally I am dead set against it as it is a big step backwards for our relatively new Ireland. There is too much negative history in the context of Anglo-Irish relations to rejoin an exclusive club of nations that has a very dodgy history indeed, ranging from centuries of imperialistic invasion, exploitation, slavery, attempted genocide and brutal misrule, not to mention a head of state in the position due to their bloodline.

Last year there was also controversy over the fact that the Secretary General instructed staff not to speak out on human rights, coupled with the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group report that found the organisation had lost its 'relevance and was decaying due the lack of a mechanism to censure member countries when they violated human rights or democratic norms'. Among the Commonwealth states, 41 still outlaw homosexuality and forced marriage is the norm in some, so it seems the British Commonwealth doesn't practice what it preaches or it's a big dog with no bite, or both.

Anyway, what are the pros and cons of rejoining the Commonwealth of nations?

Any Link for Tom Elliott ? Or do we take your word for it ?

[Cruimh]

If the British had been more imaginative and ran with Dev's Document 2 idea of External Association, as they later did with India, then we'd probably still be in. But they didn't and we aren't. If a united Ireland were on the table I'd be in favour of using Commonwealth membership as a bargaining chip, other than that I don't see a point.

If the Nationalists had accepted the idea of a Federal Ireland with two home rule parliaments before the 1918 election .....

Dev and Aiken offered to rejoin the Commonwealth after WWII and their offer was politely but firmly declined......

[Alan Alda]

Us ,free Celts , sons of Osin , be an an ally to war mongering , imperialist brits ?
A partner even ? How very dare you !
Yankee airbase at shannon? now thats a totally different matter .
Ker-ching!

[theloner]

Any Link for Tom Elliott ? Or do we take your word for it ?

You seem to know your way around the world wide web, type Tom Elliott into google, click on the big dafty looking one, not the Stockport County one. Otherwise, take my word for it.

[RepublicOfLuas]

UTV News - Republic 'should join Commonwealth'