IRELAND AND THE COMMONWEALTH

Early day motion 487, tabled 20 November 1997 by Harry Barnes (Labour). Signed by 9 members.

That this House believes that it is time for a mature debateabout the political and social benefits for Ireland and Britain, of Ireland rejoining the Commonwealth; further believes that since the Republic of Ireland left the Commonwealth in 1948, the institution has shaken off its imperialist pretensions and become a credible, multicultural vehicle for tolerance, trade and democracy in the modern world; suggests that, if Ireland were to rejoin the Commonwealth, it could play a full role in further modernising the Commonwealth and this could benefit the Republic's own diplomatic, political and commercial interests; and further suggests that other useful benefits would be to enable the British and Irish peoples and their Governments to work even more closely together, to help heal the differences between the British and Irish traditions in Ireland, and reassure unionists in Northern Ireland that their British Identity is fully recognised by the Irish State.

Signatures by party: Labour 4, Conservative 3, Liberal Democrat 2.