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23rd Mar 2019

DUP’s Jeffrey Donaldson says Ireland should join the Commonwealth

Dave Hanratty

Jeffrey Donaldson Commonwealth

“The Commonwealth is a place where Ireland’s voice should be heard and I would like to see that happen.”

DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson has expressed his desire to see Ireland back in the Commonwealth.

Speaking during a debate at the Fine Gael National Conference in Wexford on Saturday, Donaldson said that he hopes for a day “when the Republic of Ireland will join with many other nations in the Commonwealth of Nations, recognising that, whatever our history, and whatever the differences there have been in the past, we have overcome a lot of adversity in dealing with those issues.

“The Commonwealth is a place where Ireland’s voice should be heard and I would like to see that happen,” he added.

Fine Gael delegates in attendance reportedly applauded Donaldson’s words.

His suggestion was politely rebuffed by Tánaiste Simon Coveney, who noted that such a proposal is not currently on any official government agenda, though he did admit that there is some support within his party for such a move.

“I think there is some support within the party for looking anew at the Commonwealth, but not a majority support at this stage,” Coveney said.

“We have an open mind and there will be an active debate,” he added.

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