AT LAST NIGHT’S debate on Today FM, presidential candidate Gay Mitchell said he would be prepared to consider joining the Commonwealth in exchange for a united Ireland.
Mitchell believed that the Commonwealth of Nations had “evolved significantly” since Ireland left it in 1949. But the idea was rejected by his fellow presidential candidate Martin McGuinness who said the the notion of a quid pro quo was “wrong”.
The idea has previously been floated by another presidential candidate, David Norris. The Belfast Telegraph reported last year that Norris said that such a decision to re-enter the Commonwealth would have enormous benefits for the country.
The only precedent for a country leaving and then rejoining the Commonwealth is South Africa, which was prevented from continuing as a member when it became a republic in 1961 and institutionalised apartheid. It later rejoined in 1994 after apartheid was abolished.
So today we’re asking: would you like to see the Republic of Ireland join the C0mmonwealth in exchange for a united Ireland?
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