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DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson has told the Fine Gael party conference he would like to see Ireland join the Commonwealth.<\/p>\nDUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson has told the Fine Gael party conference he would like to see Ireland join the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n
Mr Donaldson received a round of applause when he mentioned the idea in Co Wexford on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis won\u2019t get agreement with everyone here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do hope we can come to a day when the Republic of Ireland will join with many other nations in the Commonwealth of nations and recognizing, whatever our history, and whatever differences there have been in the past, that we\u2019ve overcome a lot of diversity in the past in dealing with those issues, and I think it would be good in dealing with that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Commonwealth is a place where Ireland\u2019s voice should be heard and I would like to see that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ireland was a member of the Commonwealth until April 1949 when The Republic of Ireland Act 1948, came into force, severing all formal ties with the British Crown.<\/p>\n
The idea of Ireland rejoining the Commonwealth has been prominently supported by Fine Gael Senator Frank Feighan, who Mr Donaldson referenced a number of times.<\/p>\n
Mr Feighan argues membership would promote Ireland\u2019s values on a global stage and strengthen economic relations internationally.<\/p>\n
The event, hosted by Young Fine Gael, brought Mr Donaldson as well as Alliance Party leader Naomi Long and SDLP MLA Claire Hanna to discuss north-south relations.<\/p>\n
Mr Donaldson spoke at length about his party\u2019s wish to be good neighbors to Ireland, despite tense Brexit negotiations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no ulterior motive in unionism that says we can use Brexit to prevent this or prevent that, in terms of increased, enhanced cooperation in our common good,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to ensure that people are comfortable where they are, we need to address the issues around the backstop in particular, but it\u2019s about developing the new relationship.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe UK has taken a decision, that decision has to be respected but it doesn\u2019t mean we can\u2019t continue to build those north-south and internal relationships, and that is the challenge for all of us.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do not see Brexit as some kind of a vehicle to undermine those relationships, and what we do in taking Brexit forward is important and we move forward on the basis of co-operation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Donaldson was also pressed on his party\u2019s use of the petition of concern in the Stormont Assembly to block a vote on marriage equality.<\/p>\n
He pointed out the DUP no longer have enough to members to have the majority for a petition of concern, and that it may no longer be a problem if there was a Northern Ireland executive.<\/p>\n