Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

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 certain thresholds 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?

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