State Awards

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2011

Tuesday, 25 October 2011

Questions (21)

Derek Keating

Question:

9 Deputy Derek Keating asked the Taoiseach if he will consider a national civil award similar to the British OBE, the French Presidential Award, Orde national du Mérite, the New Zealand Order of Merit or the USA Congressional Gold Medal, the purpose of such an award would be for those persons who in any field of endeavour have rendered service to the Republic or the nation through distinguished works or talents or performed outstanding deeds in the national interest; his views that we have much to be proud of in our country and there are many unrecognised patriots in society today; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are only two State awards, the Scott Medal and the Fire Service Bravery Medal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28194/11]

Oral answers (30 contributions)

The Taoiseach

The issue of a State honours system has been discussed many times in the past but there has never been all-party support to sustain its development. Such support would be required if consideration of an honours system were to proceed.

While I would have no objections to all-party consideration of this matter, the timing of any such consideration would, of course, have to take cognisance of other political priorities at this time.

For the information of Deputy Keating, I remember that I, as a Minister of State many years ago, implemented the concept of the Gaisce awards, which are the presidential awards for young people. Personally, I do not favour the conferral of formal titles on people. Deputy Keating will be aware that the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade has introduced a new recognition system for Irish people of the diaspora for outstanding contributions and it might be worth having a discussion about this in that context.

Personally, I do not want to see a situation where there are lords, and titles and all of that conferred by the State. As there are the People of the Year awards, the Entrepreneur of the Year awards and other systems, perhaps it might be appropriate if all of the Members were to agree on some form of recognition, be it by an award of the Uachtarántach, as an expansion, if you like, of the Gaisce awards, but I would not want to proceed on that road unless there was all-party consensus.

Deputy Derek Keating

I thank the Taoiseach for his positive response to this proposal.

I wondered at one stage how would we ever reward persons such as former President Bill Clinton and Mr. John Hume, who have made such a significant contribution to the lasting peace in Ireland, persons in business such as Mr. J. P. McManus, Mr. Michael O'Leary and persons in sport. In Ballyfermot, I grew up with the expression ringing in my year, "Run like Ronnie". Of course, we have been renowned for our successful sportspersons over the years: Ms Katie Taylor in recent times, Ms Sonia O'Sullivan, Mr. Johnny Giles and, indeed, Mr. Mick O'Dwyer. We have been very successful.

The Taoiseach recently had the pleasure of presenting the Person of the Year award to Ms Joan Freeman, another person who has dedicated her life to a wonderful cause of saving the lives of those who are most at risk of suicide but this, of course, is a commercial award. Notwithstanding the fact that I would agree with the Taoiseach in so far as we do not want titles such as "lord", at the same time I favour some civic opportunity to acknowledge those who have made a substantial and significant contribution to supporting the people of this country in so many ways.

The Taoiseach

The Tánaiste, at the global forum, announced that the Government would shortly introduce a new system of recognition for sustained and distinguished service to Ireland or Irish communities abroad by individual members of the diaspora and he presented the first of those to former President Bill Clinton.

For the information of the Deputies, this question of a State honours system was discussed on many occasions in the past. In 1999, then Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, initiated consultations with other party leaders about an honours system. The record shows that the overwhelming majority of the Fine Gael Front Bench, of which the Ceann Comhairle was a member, stated that it should not be pursued further. In October 2007, then Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, again wrote to the party leaders and no agreement was reached.

There is no point in proceeding with this unless Members are agreeable that there should be some form of recognition of outstanding contribution by Irish persons for whatever one chooses to specify. If one wants to term it an expansion of the presidential Gaisce for young people or whatever, only on the basis of agreement could we consider this further, but it would not be "lord" or a title of that nature.

Deputy Gerry Adams

To lighten the mood, the Taoiseach might recall that the British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron, mistakenly named me as a baron.

Deputy Jerry Buttimer

He was not mistaken at all. Deputy Adams is one.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

He was impressed.

The Taoiseach

What is the full title of that?

Deputy Gerry Adams

I thought the Taoiseach might be pleased to know that if he did bring in an award for political U-turns, I would be pleased to nominate him and the Tánaiste as joint honoraries.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

Deputy Adams himself would meet that criteria as well.

The Taoiseach

I forget the full range of the title Deputy Adams has there.

Deputy Jerry Buttimer

It is to do with the expenses he has taken.

The Taoiseach

I am not sure how it arrived on Deputy Adams's desk and I do not know whether he uses it when he goes to Britain or wherever.

Deputy Gerry Adams

Citizen.

Deputy Paul Kehoe

Baron of what?

The Taoiseach

Baron Adams, it sounds great.

Deputy Micheál Martin

I appreciate the question tabled by Deputy Keating and his strong and committed views, but I put it to the Taoiseach that the fundamentals of a republic are based on merit. The great success of the Gaisce programme is that it is a creative productive programme based on the merits of the young people who participate who reach certainthresholds of achievement through their lives.

The notion of honours and awards does not sit easily with a republican viewpoint and a republican perspective. That is a view I would have and would put on the record on the issue tabled. We should maintain our commitment to a merit-based approach to society which has stood us well. In other jurisdictions, not least in Britain, there have been times when the honours system has been brought into disrepute in a number of ways. Would the Taoiseach confirm that view?

The Taoiseach

That comment is very much in line with my own view. I would not like to see a situation where annually, because of who persons might be, some sort of honours or whatever were allocated on that basis.

We might consider at an appropriate time a merit achievement-based recognition — call it what one will — but not honours or the conferral of titles. In respect of real merit and real achievement by persons, perhaps there is a way of giving recognition. I would share Deputy Martin's view.

An Ceann Comhairle

I call Question No. 10.

Deputy Peter Mathews

A Cheann Comhairle——

An Ceann Comhairle

I want to move on.

Deputy Peter Mathews

Very briefly, 30 seconds.

An Ceann Comhairle

We got an answer here, I am sorry.

Deputy Peter Mathews

I commend Deputy Keating on his contribution.

An Ceann Comhairle

This is Question Time.

Deputy Peter Mathews

Rather than an awards system as in prizes, it would be an honours system as in recognition of lifetime service. It is a maturity, not merely something brief.

Deputy Derek Keating

I thank Members and the party leaders for their contributions. The word "merit" is central to my suggestion. I would agree with the Taoiseach's suggestion and perhaps the wheels could be put in motion to see if all-party agreement is possible and then proceed if this is the case.

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

I have similar views to the previous speaker, having pursued this subject matter for many years. I did not allow the matter to rest just because there was nobody who would merit the order of merit. I wish to point out that France is a republic and it has an order of merit or the equivalent and this has been very successful.

An Ceann Comhairle

Has the Deputy a question?

Deputy Bernard J. Durkan

It should be borne in mind that in the case of people who have made a significant contribution to society over a long period of time, some means should be found to recognise this. On the other hand, there are many people who have made a negative contribution to society and we should, therefore, recognise those who have made a positive contribution.

The Taoiseach

In response to Deputy Keating, I will write to the party leaders and representatives about this matter. Deputy Durkan has been an advocate of some system for very many years. I am not sure whether he is talking about a sash down here and a sash in Northern Ireland or whatever but we might have a look at that.