Lord Rana left Punjab in 1963 for England but has been a resident of Belfast since 1966. He had to repair his property portfolio over 25 times during the Troubles in Northern Ireland because of bombings and arson attacks. “Being an Indian I should not have had any loyalty to Northern Ireland; I stayed there despite the problem” . Today, he is a successful property developer, hotelier and president of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is director of Andras House, is a leading figure in the Indian community in Northern Ireland and India's honorary consul in Belfast.
Lord Rana has been sponsoring various talks, dinners and meetings for the last few years on the subject of the “Republic of Ireland rejoining the Commonwealth”, which I have attended. He is genuinely convinced that joining the Commonwealth would be of great benefit to Ireland and he knows I am of the same opinion. I understand that Southern Sudan has expressed a wish to join and Gabon is also interested, because the Commonwealth is one of the most exciting and developing networks of the 21st century.
Lord Rana has asked this Oral Question in the House of Lords and enclosed a copy for my perusal.
Question: 11.25 am, 30 Jun 2011: Column 1861.. Asked by Lord Rana
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the recent visit by her Majesty the Queen to the Republic of Ireland, what plans they have to encourage the Republic to rejoin the Commonwealth.
The Minister of State, Foreign and Common wealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): My Lords, the Republic of Ireland’s interest in rejoining the Commonwealth is a matter for the Irish Government and, of course, for the existing Commonwealth membership.
Lord Rana: I thank the Minister for that answer. May I take this opportunity of congratulating Her Majesty and the President of Ireland on a very successful Royal visit to the Republic of Ireland? In the light of this outstanding success, do the Government agree that it is important to build on the results of the visit in a constructive way so as further to improve relations within these islands and between the two parts of Ireland? In particular, do the Government agree that if Ireland, as an independent republic, was to rejoin the Commonwealth, or have a new association with the Commonwealth, this would be calculated to be of benefit to Ireland, and more particularly greatly improve relations between the divided communities in Ireland?
Lord Howell of Guildford: I agree 100 per cent with the noble Lord’s remarks about the enormously successful state visit, which has no doubt struck a very positive chord and gives great hope to all of us whop are familiar with and wish to see ameliorated and put in the past the great problems of Ireland over the last few hundred years. The noble Lord is absolutely on the right track there. However, I have to reiterate that the initiative on which he is questioning me – membership of the Commonwealth – really is a matter for the Irish Government to look at. In many other areas I suspect that the state visit has provided an impetus and a momentum on both sides of the water for new initiatives to bring the Republic of Ireland and all aspects of the United Kingdom still closer together. They are our good friends and we are theirs.
Lord Howe of Aberavon: In encouraging movement in the direction suggested by the noble Lord, Lord Rana, may I remind my noble friend of the very different example of the great success with which the former communist Portuguese colony of Mozambique has become a fully fledged member of the Commonwealth, with great benefit to the Commonwealth as well as to Mozambique?
Lord Howell of Guildford: My noble and learned friend’s question gives me the opportunity to observe – I imagine that this will come as no surprise to noble Lords – that the Commonwealth club today is one which many people wish to join and be associated with in all sorts of forms.
There is no doubt that, as we move into the 21st century, the particular nature of the Commonwealth, with its linkages, close associations, common elements of trust, understanding and friendship and its capacity to expand trade and investment, it is the kind of club which many countries wish to join. They look at the example of Mozambique and see a new Commonwealth pattern emerging, not necessarily precisely related to the old question of which countries were members of the British Commonwealth or British Empire. It is a very successful platform for the 21st century and many other countries are queuing up to join it, which is flattering.