Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am unsure whether the Taoiseach is aware of the comment by Napoleon when he was stabilising matters after the French Revolution, that he would rule mankind with baubles. We need to be careful. I have always had an open mind but, as a republican, I have a view that there is always a question mark around the State bestowing honours on people. Unfortunately, in Britain we have seen the system there abused by political parties. The system was brought into disrepute for electoral and political gain and there were allegations of fund-raising in respect of honours being bestowed on people. That is a significant issue as well.

We discussed this last as an Oireachtas or as a country in 1997, if I am not mistaken. The political parties discussed the matter at the time. Several awards, including the Gaisce and Aosdána awards as well as a number that are independently decided upon, are outside the political or State system. There are set criteria, particularly for the Gaisce award for young people. Has the Taoiseach looked at reviewing the Gaisce award? It is an excellent awards system that challenges young people to achieve certain objectives in certain disciplines and areas. It is a quiet, understated awards system that has significant benefits for the young people concerned as well as for communities of young people who engage in various challenges to attain either the bronze, silver or gold medal. We should not shy away from celebrating or supporting the Gaisce award and ensuring it is well-resourced in terms of the management and administration.

Does the Taoiseach accept the basic principle that those responsible for our Constitution took a deliberate decision? They did not want the State to have a direct awards scheme. Does the Taoiseach accept that principle? Does he accept that our Constitution provides for an explicit ban on the creation of titles of nobility? Is that something the Taoiseach agrees with?

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