Is Ireland Just Another Bankrupt Neo-colonial State Pretending to be Something it isn’t ?

Neocolonialism refers to the system of control where their colonial masters in effect govern the liberated colony even after "independence." The control remains because the now-liberated colony continues its economic relationships with its "mother country." These relationships tend to foster a dependency similar to that, which characterised  the original colonial relationship.
Moreover, in Ireland’s case it goes further in that the settlement of 1922 produced a State “that” mirrored the British model. The structures of the parlement and legal structure to this day remain largely based on British arrangement.
Fast forward the years to 2015

The UK is still our largest trading partner in terms of imports and our second biggest partner in terms of exports
The wider political relationship now goes further that at any other time in the history of the State so we now have the following
The British-Irish Council
British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference.
The British–Irish Parliamentary Assembly
British-Irish Intergovernmental expenses committee ( This one seems like a joke)
British-Irish Intergovernmental (drinking and hooring )committee (supported by the Max Clifford Fund )
Ireland and UK agree historic defence agreement -Irish Times - Jan 13th  2015

There is already considerable co-operation between the defence forces of Ireland and the UK, with Irish troops receiving specialist training with the British Army over the past two decades. Members of the elite Rangers corps in the Irish Army trained with the British in some of the most dangerous combat zones in the world to bring their skills up to the required level. So it appears the Rangers are marching side by side with the British army in combat zones? What does this say about our neutrality? Training in combat zones!!!
Even the possibility of rejoining the commonwealth has been mentioned.
Just look at the green painted pillar-boxes in Ireland where often underneath they bear the monogram of an English monarch, so that the green paint becomes only a layer over the red paint underneath. I believe a relatively suitable symbol for a neo-colonial State. How much of Ireland's independence is cosmetic?
Statements from our politicians like… Since we won our independence or the freedom we now enjoy begin to ring rather hollow
So much for the cutting of the umbilical cord.
It is time our politicians represented the people and stepped back from kow towing to outside  interests