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A NUMBER OF years ago as a member of Dáil Éireann, I made a decision to wear a poppy in the house on Remembrance Day to commemorate the thousands of men from across the island of Ireland who fought in the Great Wars.
I wanted to publicly show that we had well and truly moved on from that dark, bloody era in the North before the evolution of the peace process – a time when the politics of fear and divisiveness tore apart communities living side by side.
A new political dawn
I wanted to affirm the wide acceptance that there is now a new political dawn in this country which has allowed us to move on from the divisions of the past and which had created so much tension on our island and between Ireland and Britain.
The reaction to my decision to wear the poppy that day was very positive. It was another clear sign that this era of peace and reconciliation has helped to bring the people of Ireland and Britain closer together in terms of mutual recognition and respect.
There have been many milestones in this welcome era of peace and reconciliation, an era which was ignited by the signing of the Good Friday agreement in 1998.
Among those seismic milestones was the visit to Ireland by the Queen in 2011 and President Higgin’s State visit to the Queen in 2014. That latter visit was also marked significantly by the presence of Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness who attended a State banquet in Windsor Castle.
The current Brexit debate and the decision by the people of Britain to leave/remain has generated much debate once again about our own special relationship with our near neighbour.
Should we rejoin?
Given the power of the peace dividend in succeeding to build many bridges in the last twenty years on this island and with Britain, one of those issues which has been occasionally highlighted in the last number of years is whether Ireland should rejoin the Commonwealth.
And today, I want to reopen the debate again about the merits of Ireland rejoining the Commonwealth.
In 1949 before we became a Republic, Ireland had been an active member of the Commonwealth. In becoming a Republic in that year, it marked the moment when the Irish President was formally recognised as the only Head of State and the departure from the Commonwealth.
Over the 65 years which have passed, tragically, there have been decades of deep political and societal upheaval but which are now thankfully firmly behind us. In their place, there is much tolerance and mutual respect which have helped to drown out most of the extremist voices.
It is noteworthy to point out that out of the 53 member states that currently make up the Commonwealth, 33 of them are Republics while the Queen’s position is now largely titular in nature. Among the 53 members states are countries such as the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand which are all home to many of the Irish diaspora.
Among the Commonwealth’s many noble objectives is the promotion of democracy, rule of law, human rights, good governance and social and economic development.
Yes, there will be detractors from obvious quarters about the notion of rejoining the Commonwealth, but would such a move not fit perfectly with this new era of political and religious tolerance on our islands?
Develop a pluralist Ireland
Would rejoining not help further develop a pluralist Ireland where all our different identities are always mutually recognised and respected?
Would it also not just strengthen existing trade, business, cultural and political relationships but nurture new ones across the world?
The Reform Group, a non-denominational, non-party body based in the Republic of Ireland, advocating the development of Ireland for a new generation, believes that the Republic should, as a sovereign state, cultivate its “already close relationship with the peoples of the Commonwealth” by becoming a member.
Another advocate, author and journalist Mary Kenny, also argues that rejoining would enlarge Ireland’s influence and enhance the sense of inclusivity in the Irish nation.
In 2013, during a visit to the UK, An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny did say that he didn’t foresee Ireland rejoining the Commonwealth. However, he equally acknowledged the growing links between Ireland and Commonwealth, in terms of trade, diplomacy, culture.
So, I want pose the question again and hopefully open up a constructive debate: do we want to see Ireland rejoining the Commonwealth?
By doing so, will it not promote Ireland’s values to a global audience while strengthening and growing important economic and cultural ties internationally?
I believe so.
Frank Feighan was nominated by Taoiseach Enda Kenny to Seanad Eireann last month. He is a former TD for Roscommon–South Leitrim.
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How about they post details of how much money donated actually reaches the victims before they go blaming the donors. Food supplies entering black Market, stealing, local corruption, lack of accountability? Don’t blame me if you want to get another donation, you are a professional charity, it’s your failure to communicate and react to the situation.
Economic issues matter more than human life. It is a shame that famine gets ignored because there is an over abundance of food in this world and yet we can’t share it. The idea that governments running these country’s that are famine hit are keeping funding and food supplies is also sickening. Something needs to be done but if governments stop aid from getting to the people that need it, then UN should be the ones policing this yet they seem to be unresponsive as they do not want conflict even though it means saving lives.
“I want proof”, in another words “I know well its happening, I just want to relieve myself of the guilt of it by pretending I think its not happening”
Foreign aid is killing Africa, a number of African economists have written about it. The West is failing to grasp that the intuitive thing to do doesn’t always solve a problem.
2012…and this is still happening,all the charities are doing thier best but still not enough…were do we go from here…is heartbreaking to see a human like this…
A lot of this is due in no small part to the IMF, this is the style their help comes in. Too many of the African countries that received or were put in a position to accept such loans had to face severe austerity or hand over rights to mineral or other national resources to the IMF and global corporations. Slowly stripping these countries with even the means to finance the ability to repay its loans.
Sounds familiar today doesn’t it?
The value of human life is shocking. They shipped my cousin with an automatic weapon on his back to Afghanistan in a heart beat (unfortunately he was happy to go) but mobilize to help starving children. use a super power to cut out the corruption, the back handers and get the food directly to those who need it and help them actually build their country properly…………not today pal. John Pilger made a great documentary in which he stated that in the 85-86 after live aid Africa gave more cash to the west than we gave them. I think bono would have more success for his cause if he organised mass protests in front of world bank and IMF head quarters instead of throwing a gig.
incredible that the wikipedia story gets more views than this
@ Harry I agree but I think people bury their head in the sand when it comes to these types of stories and particularly with that heart wrenching picture of the (probably now deceased) child. Its just mind boggling how one half of the world is up to its eyeballs in an obesity epidemic but these poor people are left to waste and die.
The western governments, huge private companies (is there a difference?) and the animals the west uses to control and rape these countries of there natural resources are completely responsible.
I am so sorry but I can not read this or look at the pictures .Too horrific . I can donate to charities …. Was it lways so bad through the decades and centuries in these places ?? Or is this an historically recent phenonomon ? I am sorry if I am displaying ignorance,I do not want to offend anyone.
Charities really just don’t cut it when it comes to issues on this scale, yet the members of the government don’t need to worry about someone dying if it’s not in their family.
It also doesn’t help that there are 10 different charities with the same goal. Can’t see why they don’t just amalgamate into one, would save costs on admin and other stuff too.
How the western nations attempts at a painfree solution to the crisis of their own making is crippling developing nations.
http://economichorizon.blogspot.com/2010/11/sound-dollar.html
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