Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. It is my first time to address him in the House so it is a particular pleasure. I think it highly appropriate that Senator Quinn would be the person to bring this Bill before the House. Nobody anywhere could accuse him of being partisan in any way. Senator Quinn is one of the most independent, free-thinking people in this House and he has crossed all party lines to facilitate Bills and to argue against Bills, so there is nothing political in this. He has gone out of his way to ensure the awarding of the honours would be as far as possible removed from the political arena, and I compliment him for that.

I believe the Bill is a great idea and it is high time we had this. Senator Eamonn Coghlan should not worry as he will perhaps get an award yet from the State which would in some way be superior to his senatorial appointment. I agree with Senator Cahill that one or two of the criteria might be changed. Senator Quinn's list suggests all of the fine things about Irish society, albeit that some of them are a little capitalist and we are missing the labour movement in there. I would offer one or two amendments to the Bill to ensure we get a fair representation, and in addition to having IBEC, I would like to see ICTU in there arguing its corner as well.

I ask the Minister of State to accept the Bill. We can amend it on Committee Stage if there are any serious amendments to be made. It is high time we put down the cross we have been carrying for our colonial masters for over 800 years. They are gone nearly 100 years next Easter, so it is time to forget them. The Irish memory is too long; it is time to forget that. There is nothing in this Bill that suggests it is in any way associated with the monarchy we threw out of here 100 years ago, although I am hoping I might get an old knighthood there myself at some stage. I ask the Minister of State to accept the Bill, which is brought forward in the best and truest Irish spirit. I thank Senator Quinn for it.