Máiría Cahill (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I thank Senator Quinn for initiating the Bill as it is great to be discussing something positive. I believe there is a very interesting debate to be had around the merits of the system and I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute on the topic today. I recognise the positive intentions of Senator Quinn in proposing it. There are many Irish citizens who have made important contributions to society and the Irish have historically made a contribution to the world far above our relative size, and these achievements should, of course, be celebrated. The idea that there could be an official system by which we recognise and celebrate these people and their achievements is noble and worthwhile.

Under this Government, an awards system for the achievements of the Irish abroad has already been established. This was announced in 2012 by my Labour Party colleague, the former Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Eamon Gilmore. Since its establishment in 2012, it has honoured people such as George Mitchell for his important contribution to peace and reconciliation through his key work on the Good Friday Agreement, Chuck Feeney for his work with Atlantic Philanthropies and Sally Mulready for her tireless work with the Irish community in Britain, among others.

There are undoubtedly merits to extending such a system to the achievements of people in Ireland. However, I also have a number of concerns, which are not criticisms in any shape or form, as to how this is taken forward. There is a constitutional ban on the awarding of titles of nobility by the State. I appreciate the distinction that Senator Quinn makes between his proposed system and the awarding of titles of nobility. However, I would suggest that an honours system may be closer to this than he suggests. Senator Quinn proposes that awardees would be entitled to have the letters GU after their name, which of course brings the UK honours system to mind. The distinguished awards system for the Irish abroad is explicitly not an honours system. Perhaps it is by staying closer to this structure that we would better serve both the public and those who are to receive these awards.

I also have a slight concern about the dangers of populism in regard to such an award. There is a provision in the Bill for the awarding council to receive nominations from the public, which is welcome. However, I would need further reassurances from Senator Quinn about how frivolous nominations would be batted out of the process and prevented. I do not want to go down a road where we would celebrate awards for rock stars and personalities but that it would be solely for people who have made a key, lasting and proper contribution to shaping and changing Irish society. If those concerns are taken on board, it would be a very positive system.

I have some questions regarding the groups that Senator Quinn proposes would make up the awarding council. Of course, they are all excellent organisations and I am not in any way suggesting they would not be entirely capable or that they would not perform the task to a very high standard. However, I suggest the groups are perhaps too narrow in terms of representing the true diversity of Irish society. I propose that groups such as migrant communities or councils would be included and that sports organisations and community groups would further round out the council. I would also suggest that having some Northern representation would be very important.

It is also important to prevent such an honours system from becoming an outlet for political patronage. On that, Senator Quinn and I completely agree and it is good to see he has a provision in the Bill in this regard. I hope Senator Quinn will consider the points I have raised, as well as the other very positive comments from Senators. I look forward to further debate on this issue as it advances to later Stages. I believe that, as Senator Quinn wishes, he will gain consensus on this Bill, which is a very positive contribution to the House.