Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I am not referring to the Minister beside the Taoiseach. Actually when I do mention donations, that is a party that wanted to get rid of donations altogether and now finds it cannot make a donation to its own party. The people of the year awards is a system whereby a panel looks at valid contributions made by men and women in various categories of Irish life and makes an award to them. Years ago I was instrumental in the presidential Gaisce awards for young people, who complete certain tasks or activities and are nominated for presidential honours in that sense. The problem for politicians is that no matter what is done it will breed a cynical response. I recall the Taoiseach in his own inimitable fashion saying on "Six-one" that he honoured people by appointment to State boards because they were his friends. That is not what he has in mind here. We are quite happy to participate in this exercise to see if it is possible to devise a scheme whereby Irish men and Irish women can be honoured without it becoming a partisan party political "How is your father? I will look after you" system. We will support it if the Taoiseach will guarantee that surreptitious payments will not be made to political parties, as happened in Great Britain for the achievement of honours to be nominated by the Queen or, as would be the case here, by the President, in respect of whatever system is set up. I assume this is not what the Taoiseach has in mind. We need to draw a balance with regard to perfectly legitimately honouring Irish men and women for outstanding achievements or their contribution to our society. I am sure the Taoiseach does not want a situation where people will say "That is because he was a supporter of Fianna Fáil" or "She was a supporter of Fine Gael", or whatever the case might be, or that it suddenly comes to light that the person is making contributions to the Green Party for nomination as a person of honour in the country.

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