Commonwealth Day speech by Eamon Delaney, writer and freelance journalist, at the Royal Irish Academy, with an introduction by Robin Bury, Chairman of the Reform Group
Eamon Delaney Commonwealth Day Speech at RIA
3 May 2011 By
Cyrus Rustomjee Commonwealth Day Speech at RIA
2 May 2011 By
Commonwealth Day speech by Cyrus Rustomjee, Director of Economic Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat, London, at the Royal Irish Academy
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Part 2 
Part 3 
Could Ireland really rejoin the Commonwealth?
1 May 2011 By
The Telegraph – 26 Mar 2010
Campaigners believe that were Ireland to rejoin the Commonwealth, it would draw a line under the troubled history of Anglo-Irish relations, observes Philip Johnston.
One hurdle to overcome for Ireland would be a visit from the Queen.
Easter holds a special place in the history of Ireland. In 1916, the insurrection known as the Easter Rising paved the way for the country’s partition and a bloody civil conflict. In 1998, the Good Friday Agreement marked the end of the Provisional IRA’s war with the British state and the beginnings of a process that has resulted in the two extremes in Ulster politics coming together to share power.
Will Ireland return to Royal fold?
27 April 2011 By
By Richard Kay – Mail Online
18th March 2011
On the eve of one of the most historic royal visits of modern times, I have news of an intriguing diplomatic mission that could set the seal on the Queen’s reign ahead of next year’s Diamond Jubilee.
Trading places: the ‘Commonwealth effect’ revisited
8 April 2011 By
Joanna Bennett, Paul Chappell, Howard Reed and Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah
The Royal Commonwealth Society
A Working Paper.
This paper is published by the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS). It has been written by Joanna Bennett (Communications Manager, RCS), Paul Chappell (doctoral student at the University of York), Howard Reed (Director of Landman Economics) and Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah (Director of the RCS).
Today, the Commonwealth is an association of 54 countries, spanning 6 continents with a combined population of over 2 billion people worldwide. Evolving out of the British Empire – a gentle anaesthetic to ease the pain of de-colonisation – the Commonwealth is now a modern voluntary association of equal, sovereign states. But it seems that longstanding questions about the relationship between trade and empire remain relevant even today.
Reform in the air but do we really want a royal family?
18 March 2011 By
Irish Daily Mail, Thursday, March 10, 2011 Page 25
Talk of the Town
Reform in the air but do we really want a royal family?
HAPPY days are here again for the Reform Group now that the Queen is on the verge of visiting Ireland. Reform has been working quietly for years to promote closer relations between the UK and the Republic, and even advocating that we rejoin the Commonwealth.
On Monday, the group will celebrate Commonwealth Day with a reception in the Royal Irish Academy on Dawson Street. There will be speeches by the South African Cyrus Rustomjee, who represents the Commonwealth Secretariat, and from author and commentator Eamon Delaney, who supports the idea of us rejoining the Commonwealth.
‘It is simply a loose association of countries which have the English language in common and were formerly ruled by the British,’ said Delaney. ‘It includes Australia, Canada and Jamaica among many others. I cannot see why it should offend and these days we could get a lot of such an association. Given the mess that we’ve made of things on our own, it would help to have such support. After all, Europe has only been punishing us with their financial bailouts.’
Among those expected to attend the lunchtime event are long-time Reform Group supporters Mary Kenny, author of a recent book about Ireland and the British monarchy, and Bruce Arnold, whose recent biography of the painter Derek Hill encapsulates the best of the cultural ferment between the two countries.
We trust that those present will remember to call Mary Kenny ‘Miss Kenny’. The presidential hopeful said she’d like to be shown some respect occasionally on Tonight With Vincent Browne a couple of weeks ago.
The one downside for the reception is the lack of politicians planning to attend, despite the muchvaunted ‘matured political atmosphere’ between Ireland and the UK.
Fianna Fáil’s Éamon Ó Cuív, who has publicly supported the idea of rejoining the Commonwealth, has irritated some Reformers for failing to say whether he will or won’t be attending.
‘One wonders why,’ said one member last night. ‘After the recent cleanout of the Dáil, they can’t all be busy these days.’
Lord Rana’s “Commonwealth plea to Republic”
16 March 2011 By
Commonwealth plea to Republic – News Letter
Published on Wednesday, 16 March 2011, 11:18
A top Belfast business-man has urged Taoiseach Enda Kenny to lead Ireland back into the Commonwealth.
Lord Diljit Rana, Honorary Consul for India in Northern Ireland, made the call at a Queen’s University dinner on Monday night to celebrate Commonwealth Day.
“I believe membership would benefit the Republic immensely in economic terms and the country could make a huge contribution,” he said.
Commonwealth members enjoy up to 50% trade advantage
15 March 2011 By
New research published by the Royal Commonwealth Society shows that a
Commonwealth country’s trade with another member is likely to be a third to a half more
than with a non-member, even after taking into account other possible contributory factorssuch as proximity, level of development and language.
The research also reveals that, over the last two decades, the importance of
Commonwealth members to each other as sources of imports and destinations for exportshas grown by around a quarter and third respectively.
Other key findings include:
- Between them, Commonwealth countries traded around US$4 trillion worth of goods in 2008.
- Intra-Commonwealth trade accounts for about one-sixth of total Commonwealth members’ trade, with an average for each member of around one-third.
- The share of intra-Commonwealth trade has grown steadily from around 12 per cent in 1990 to around 16 per cent in 2008.
- The Commonwealth dominates trade in some countries; for example more thanfour-fifths of Botswana’s and Namibia’s imports come from other Commonwealth countries; and more than 90 per cent of the exports from Saint Vincent and Samoa go to other Commonwealth countries.
- The value of trade between pairs of Commonwealth member states is between 38 and 50 per cent higher than between pairs of countries where one or both are not Commonwealth members, controlling for other factors.
Dr Danny Sriskandarajah, Director of the RCS, said: “The Commonwealth may be best known for its Games, but it seems to be delivering some serious Gains on the trade front. Though founded on shared political bonds, the Commonwealth’s future may lie inpromoting economic ties. “
Robert Alston, Past Master of the World Traders Company, said: “The Company welcomes this opportunity to help to raise awareness of the benefits of trade among the members ofthe Commonwealth.”
Notes to Editors
‘Trading places: the ‘Commonwealth effect’ revisited’, is published by the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS). Using a revised methodology, this research develops work first carried out in the late 1990s by Lundan and Jones in a project funded by the Commonwealth Business Council which showed a significant ‘Commonwealth Effect’ on trade and investment.
The paper was presented at the ‘Commonwealth Trade – Time for action!’ seminar held on 30 September 2010 at Marlborough House, London. The research has been carried out by a team from the Royal Commonwealth Society, Landman Economics and the University of York, with financial support from the Worshipful Company of World Traders.
The Royal Commonwealth Society: is the oldest and largest civil society organisation devoted to the Commonwealth. Founded in 1868, the RCS conducts a range of events and activities aimed at promoting international understanding. Headquartered at the Commonwealth Club in London, the RCS has some 5000 members in the UK and a presence in some 40 Commonwealth countries through a network of branches and Commonwealth societies.
The Commonwealth: was established with 8 members in 1949. In 2010, it has 54 members with a total population of nearly 2 billion. It is an association of governments and peoples, built around shared language, institutions, challenges, aspirations and values. The Commonwealth promotes democracy, development, and diversity within its member countries and across the world.
The Worshipful Company of World Traders: has been one of the 108 Livery Companies of the City of London since 2000. Most of its Members are involved in international trade and business. It supported this research from its educational Trust and has organised the seminar on ‘Commonwealth Trade – time for Action’ at Marlborough House on 30 September at which the research was presented.
Contacts
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‘Benefits’ of rejoining Commonwealth”
15 March 2011 By
The Irish Times – Tuesday, March 15, 2011
MARY MINIHAN
IRELAND REJOINING the Commonwealth would bring “nothing but benefits” and the idea should not offend anyone, according to journalist and former diplomat Eamon Delaney.
Addressing the Reform Group in Dublin yesterday, which was Commonwealth Day, Mr Delaney said there were compelling reasons why Ireland should rejoin the group of nations it left in 1949.
Rejoining the Commonwealth club? C’mon it’ll be great sport
Forging international links is a no-brainer, says Eamon Delaney – after all we’re essentially British
Last week, a book about Ireland and the Commonwealth was launched in Dublin by the Reform Group, a plucky organisation which argues that Ireland should join, or rather rejoin, that ex-colonial club.
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