Rapprochement between Britain and the Republic of Ireland

At last the rapprochement between Britain and Ireland as been fully recognised at the highest state level. In many ways this rapprochement has been lead by the ordinary citizens of both countries between families, friends, work colleagues and cultural collaboration. A prime example of cultural collaboration is in the sporting arena where Rugby Union players from Northern Ireland play the international game by representing Ireland in general. The British and Irish Lions are a supra-national team where national differences are completely set aside for the better good of the game.

In the main Irish and British citizens do not treat one another as foreigners when making trips to either of their nations. British and Irish citizens have the right to vote in general elections when resident in each other's country. There was no reason why the visit of the Queen as the Head of State of the United Kingdom would not be welcomed by the overwhelming majority of Irish people and the Queen looked visibly delighted to be there. Let us hope that the remaining part of her trip remains peaceful and successful.

There has been a transformation in both Britain and the rest of Western Europe in the attitude to political and constitutional change at both a grassroots and government level: All change must be achieved by means of the ballot box and not be means of force. Since the end of the Second World War and the fall of the Berlin wall all major change in the democracies of Europe have been brought about by means of popular consent backed up by the ballot box. We have seen important moves by national states to recognise the rights of independent minded communities by the creation of semi-independent provinces such as Corsica.

In Britain and Ireland we still have a long way to go, as there are still difficulties to be faced in Northern Ireland before relations between the different communities are fully resolved and we can all feel at home when we pay a visit to any locality in Belfast or Londonderry.

One thing is certain those who seek constitutional change for Northern Ireland by violence will be defied by the overwhelming majority citizens of both Britain and Ireland. But, at last some peaceful and democratic progress is being made.