Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)
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As many Senators will be aware, I have spoken publicly on this issue many times. In this era of Brexit, my call to explore the potential benefits of rejoining the Commonwealth of Nations continues to provoke an interesting response. Many of us here are democratic Irish nationalists and proud Europeans but we live in a time when our future relationships with Britain will be shaped by Brexit. That is why I believe it is very important that we seek to develop and nurture new relationships.

The stark reality of Brexit is already biting at fundamental levels. Here is just one example. Until recently an average of 26 daily meetings took place between Irish and UK officials. Those regular meetings between British and Irish diplomats and politicians at a European level were instrumental in fostering good relations and understanding between the two islands. In my personal opinion, I believe Ireland and the UK's joint entry into the EEC 45 years ago paved the way for the Anglo-Irish and Good Friday agreements, both of which have delivered peace and a shared future to our two islands.

In terms of the relationship building, I do not think it is a coincidence that Ireland has recently applied for observer status to join the Francophonie, a club of French-speaking states with 57 members which is a Commonwealth-style organisation. As a way of fostering links with French-speaking countries, it is a move which is strategic and welcome. I have consistently encouraged debates on the merits of Ireland rejoining the Commonwealth of Nations. Indeed, I believe that, by doing so, the Republic of Ireland could pioneer the way for new relationships with Commonwealth countries, which include the UK, and with the EU itself.The Republic already has strong links with Commonwealth countries in terms of aid, trade, politics, education, common legal systems, the diaspora and sport. Notably, 70% of the people born on the island of Ireland residing overseas live in Commonwealth countries. It is estimated that more than 20 million people of Irish origin live within Commonwealth countries such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. With a combined population of 2.3 billion, the Commonwealth comprises 53 countries, 31 of which are republics like us.

In foreign aid support, the Commonwealth has helped to lift many countries out of poverty and it counts among its member states not just developing nations, but also many high-tech countries such as India and South Africa.

For those who are not familiar with the Commonwealth, it is a goodwill organisation that performs a positive global role. It is not the British Commonwealth of old, but the modern Commonwealth of Nations, to which it was renamed in 1949 to accommodate republics such as ours. It is also important to say that the UK is just one of 53 member states and accounts for less than 3% of the population. Suffice it to say that, while Britain is still an important member of the Commonwealth, it is no longer the boss. Furthermore, the Queen is a titular head who carries no power. She is just a symbol of free association within Commonwealth countries, the majority of which are republics, with five having monarchs of royal households not associated with the UK's.

Let us be clear. I am a realist, so I know that the debate about Commonwealth membership for the Republic of Ireland will involve many issues, complexities and sensitivities. However, I have a firm conviction that, if we put our old prejudices to one side when we consider the merits of rejoining the Commonwealth of Nations, we will find much value in what I am proposing.

The most important reason I have called for a debate on rejoining the Commonwealth is that, if we truly desire a united Ireland, one Ireland or a shared island, we must show our unionist friends that we are not afraid to take this leap of faith. We could look forward to our two islands co-operating North-South and east-west on many new fronts, with sport being just one example. Can we not envisage the possibility of seeing an island of Ireland team in, for example, hockey and many other sports competing in future Commonwealth games? Can we not dare to dream that such possibilities could help to pave the way for an all-island soccer team competing in future World Cup competitions and European championships? This is worthy of serious consideration.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for raising this issue, which he has discussed many times before and is something in which he believes passionately. He is also passionate about preparing for all of the eventualities of Brexit and ensuring that we continue to work with the UK and have the closest possible relationship with it.

We have strong international relations across the globe - bilaterally with individual countries through our diplomatic networks and multilaterally through our membership of various international organisations, for example, the UN, where we have relationships with a broad spectrum of countries, many of which are members of the Commonwealth. Last year, the Taoiseach announced a doubling of our global footprint. Work has begun on the initial phase of this expansion of Ireland's diplomatic network with new embassies in Santiago in Chile, Bogotá in Colombia, Amman in Jordan and Wellington in New Zealand, and new Consulates General in Vancouver, Canada, and Mumbai, India, opening this year. Further expansion will be considered by the Government and take into account Ireland's political, trading, cultural and other strategic interests and priorities.

The UK's decision to leave the EU is regrettable and has serious implications for Ireland. Indeed, Brexit is not good for anyone. However, we must maintain a strong and constructive bilateral relationship with the UK. We are fully committed to developing and enhancing that relationship over the coming years no matter what the outcome. In the context of the UK's exit from the European Union, we will work to secure the closest possible positive relationship between the UK and the EU.

While the UK and Ireland share a turbulent past, our relationship in recent times has been close. For example, a number of successful high-level visits have had a positive impact on our relationship, most notably the state visit by Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland in 2011 and the reciprocal state visit by President Higgins to the UK in 2014. More recently, the President travelled to Dumfries House in Scotland at the invitation of the Prince of Wales.Most recently, President Higgins travelled to Dumfries House in Scotland at the invitation of the Prince of Wales, following the visit of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall to Ireland last year, their third visit in as many years. Relations are good and strong and of course we want to keep them that way.

Numerous channels will continue to exist for Irish-British engagement and both Governments continue to make extensive and effective use of these. The Good Friday Agreement provides for important institutional co-operation on an east-west basis including through the British-Irish Council, BIC. In addition, the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly brings together elected representatives from the Oireachtas, Westminster, the Northern Ireland Assembly, and the Scottish and Welsh devolved assemblies. These structures have, for the most part, shown their value and will continue to evolve in response to the changing circumstances. In addition, we will also explore other avenues to maintain the “habit of co-operation” that currently exists where Ministers regularly meet their counterparts and work together in Brussels. This deeper working relationship should allow for co-operation across a broad range of issues of shared interest many of which the Senator has raised with us today.

Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for her reply. I absolutely agree that the doubling of our global footprint and work with the expansion of Ireland's diplomatic network is very welcome. We are now at a place where we can make a change as leaders for good throughout the world. Joining the Francophonie and Commonwealth of Nations and many other organisations will be of benefit. I am also delighted we are fully committed to developing and enhancing our relationship with the UK over the coming years and to developing the closest possible relationship between the UK and the EU. The visit by Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland in 2011 and the subsequent state visit by President Higgins to the UK in 2014 was a groundbreaking change in culture in our two islands. We need a lot more of that. Numerous channels will be open to us in that regard but we cannot do too much through the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, which is meeting in Sligo in a month's time, and the various cross-border institutions, North-South and east-west. We must ensure that our parliaments and parliamentarians across these two islands work even more closely together in the absence of the UK from the EU.

We had €1 billion of trade every week with the UK. For centuries, our countries have had a relationship,, albeit not with the levels of trust it should have had. We took our relationship for granted and despite 200,000 jobs on both sides of these islands and centuries of trade, it is ironic that the British-Irish Chamber of Commerce was only set up in 2011 after the Queen's visit to Ireland. We need more of such initiatives to break down those barriers of mistrust and allow us to work together North-South and east-west.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I fully agree with the Senator that we need to continue such visits. We must ensure that our relations stay strong. We have had a turbulent past but in recent years - in particular through our common membership of the European Union - the United Kingdom has been our closest neighbour, friend and ally in many different areas. We must ensure that is not affected because of Brexit but that our relations stay strong.

While the Government is not considering rejoining the Commonwealth at present, the Embassy of Ireland in London will remain our biggest bilateral embassy globally. The focus on expanding Ireland’s global footprint is key to our foreign policy at present. Many of the countries and areas under consideration in this regard are members of the Commonwealth and we believe we can develop and enhance our bilateral relationships with them in this manner. The focus on our relationship with the United Kingdom will continue to be a priority for us, particularly through these difficult negotiations on Brexit. I thank the Senator for raising this issue.