Ireland and the Commonwealth: “Our door is always open…”

I’m sure there is some value in repeatedly asking questions to which the answer is no. Although Reg Empey’s asking (to no one in particular) if the Republic might take its place in the Commonwealth of Nations just days after the Toaiseach ruled out such an eventuality to a question from the audience at LSE was interesting.

More interesting though was the response from the Lib Dem Peer Lord Saltaire:

“Ireland has a very strong record in international peacekeeping since the Second World War, and a long tradition of development assistance to Africa, so it has many of the links that one would wish to see, and it self-evidently meets all the criteria for Commonwealth membership.”

In other words, “Yep, you’ve got the profile (hey, who doesn’t?), let us know if you ever change your mind?”

Just now, Ireland has all the multilateral action it can handle. I suspect this may be a runner, if we ever get to the point a united Ireland is a likely event. And despite all the glib predictions in that regard, the most recent public pitch almost sunk the case without trace.

So don’t hold yer breath…

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