Elizabeth stays schtum after TD’s ‘God save us, Queen’

IT has always been “no, nay never” for Paisley to a united Ireland under Irish rule, but apparently Big Ian’s Majesty is more reluctant to share her thoughts on a reunion under her reign.

It is rare that one draws comparisons between committed republicans and the British Broad- casting Corporation but last week both failed to see the funny side of Fine Gael TD Michael Ring’s suggestion that maybe the Queen should take us back.

Speaking in the Dáil last week as the country’s financial woes and the Government’s responsibility for our dire straits formed the basis of a heated debate, Mr Ring quipped: “Although we have our independence now, perhaps we should hand the country back to the queen and apologise for the mess we have made of it. When Britain was running the country, at least it didn’t leave us in such a mess or in the hock we are in now.”