Frank Feighan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is exactly what the Seanad should be about.

As somebody who advocates a greater association with the Commonwealth of Nations, I took great interest in the wonderful supplement in the Sunday Independent, the largest selling newspaper, outlining Ireland's association with the Commonwealth. As Members are aware, in 1949 Ireland was declared to be a republic by a Fine Gael Taoiseach, probably at the suggestion of Seán MacBride, the leader of Clann na Poblachta and an ex-chief of staff of the IRA. It was a significant mistake which resulted in the Ireland Act being introduced at Westminster which effectively recognised Northern Ireland for the first time and drove partition on the island more deeply.