Much to be gained from royal visit

A STATE visit by Queen Elizabeth next year is yet another visible sign of the transformation which has taken place over recent years between Ireland and Britain. There is nothing to fear from such a visit, and much to be gained.

Our group, Reform, which has been working for better relations between Ireland and Britain for years, warmly welcomes the proposals for the forthcoming visit as an expression of better relations between our two states.

The visit would mark a further logical step of the Belfast Agreement, as Alban Maginness of the SDLP has said.