The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has said that he will not argue against debate on the issue of Ireland rejoining the Commonwealth, according to an interview published this morning in the Times.
Although the issue was still viewed with suspicion, the Commonwealth was "a very different thing now than what it was 50 years ago", Mr Ahern told the newspaper.
The prospects of Ireland rejoining the Commonwealth had been raised by members of Fianna Fail, he said.