Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is welcome to the House. I congratulate her on her appointment as Chief Whip. I am sure it is a difficult job.

I am seconding this Bill in loyalty to the late Senator Feargal Quinn. In 2015, when the Minister of State was a Senator, Mr. Quinn laid out its rationale. It was not to see the bourgeoisie of Irish society having more accolades bestowed upon them on top of what they already have; it was an effort to identify and reward citizens of this country who went above and beyond. These would include the likes of Ms Catherine Corless from the Minister of State's county, Galway; Ms Vicky Phelan, who in giving her life did a wonderful service to this country; our retained firefighters, who are currently struggling to obtain recognition; and members of voluntary organisations, such as the Irish Red Cross and the Irish Coast Guard. Others will argue that we already have systems in place and do not need a new system. We have honorary degrees, but these are managed by the bourgeois, and we also have freedom of cities, but this is generally managed by politicians. The proposed system takes politics out of the system.

The Bill itself requires significant amendment as it passes through the House to make it what we truly want it to be, namely, legislation that recognises citizens, not the bourgeois or those who can get accolades in other places. I would never subscribe to the UK system, which is repugnant to anybody who lives in a republic, but I feel it has great merits. I compliment my colleague Senator Keogan, who was the one with the courage to introduce this Bill. I am happy to second it on the basis that it will require sitting down with officials from the Department of the Taoiseach, I assume, and working through the objections. There will be many objections to the final Bill if it passes through both Houses. Both Senator Keogan and I, in addition to others who have examined this Bill, are 100% ready to accept a discussion and debate on how it might be improved. Overall, however, what is proposed would be good for citizens who go above and beyond the ordinary within their communities. For me, it should be community-based.

I intend to make some amendments myself. I remember saying to the late Feargal Quinn that I would have difficulty with the awarding of the GU to people who are not citizens of the State. I do not want Ireland to become like the UK, where awards can be pushed out as some sort of thank you for coming along. In that regard, I will be tabling amendments on Committee Stage. Senator Keogan will be open to anything we want to discuss and the Government, if it is willing to run this through, will want to make significant changes. I am seconding the Bill on that basis.