Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Is cúis áthais dom é a bheith anseo chun labhairt faoin mBille seo ar son an Rialtais. I thank the House for the opportunity to come before the Seanad on the Private Members' Gradam an Uachtaráin Bill 2023, which has been proposed by Senators Keogan, Craughwell, Clonan, Mullen and Boyhan.

I note that this Bill is largely the same as the Bill of the same name tabled by the late Senator Feargal Quinn and debated in this House in 2015 before lapsing on the dissolution of the Houses for the general election in 2016. It is pleasing to see his work being remembered, and I thank Senator Keogan and her colleagues in the Independent Group for re-introducing the Bill and enabling a debate on this topic. The late Senator Quinn was not only known as a successful businessman but he served in this House with distinction for over 20 years, and I was honoured to serve with him. He always saw the role of a Senator as that of a legislator before all else.

The purpose of this Bill is to provide a mechanism to facilitate the conferral by the State of an honour, to be known as Gradam an Uachtaráin, to recognise the exceptional achievements of its citizens and the outstanding contributions of others and to provide for related matters. The Government is not opposing this Bill, but that is not to say that the Government accepts all the detail of the scheme as set out in the Bill. The House will be aware that Article 40.2.1° of the Constitution provides inter aliathat titles of nobility shall not be conferred by the State, but I am advised that this does not prevent the award of honours otherwise. This provision had its origins in Article 5 of the 1922 Constitution and was carried forward, in a slightly different form, into the 1937 Constitution.

It was conceived in a different era, fresh from a War of Independence, with a State still raw from the exercise of British rule and the tumult of separating from it. We have journeyed far over the past 100 years as an independent and sovereign nation to the strong, modern and multicultural State we are today. Last December, the centenary of the foundation of Seanad Éireann provided an opportunity to reflect on how the Seanad has provided a forum for open and robust debate, for the exchange of ideas and the development of plurality and diversity over those 100 years. The Bill before us proposes the establishment of an honours system, which would be awarded by Uachtarán na hÉireann and marked by the presentation of a medal which the recipients might wear on formal occasions, and a lapel button. The award recipients would be entitled to use the letters "G.U." representing Gradam an Uachtaráin after their name as a mark of distinction.

The question of establishing an Irish honours system has been considered on a number of occasions in the past and efforts were made to see if there was political consensus on it. However, none of these efforts met with any success. As far back as 1963, the then Government approved in principle the idea that a State decoration of honour would be instituted. However, general consensus on the matter was not reached and it was not pursued. Since the early 1990s, taoisigh of the day have contacted party leaders on four separate occasions, in 1994, 1999, 2007 and 2015, to establish if all parties would be willing to engage in discussions on a national awards scheme or similar, although without consensus being established. Previous taoisigh have indicated to the House that all-party support would be required before considering an award scheme, and that approach continues to recommend itself strongly, for self-evident reasons.

There are already in existence a number of award schemes, which Senators have highlighted, whereby the State recognises and awards merit, distinction or bravery in particular areas. Gaisce - the President’s award - is a self-development programme for young people aged 14 to 25, with personal, physical and community challenges. It is a challenge from Uachtarán na hÉireann to young people to realise their potential. There are three levels to the Gaisce award: bronze; silver; and gold. In 2012, the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad was introduced. The award is presented by the President to people living abroad - primarily Irish citizens, those entitled to Irish citizenship and persons of Irish descent - who have made a sustained and distinguished service to Ireland or Irish communities abroad. Some ten of these awards are made each year by the President.

Aosdána is a scheme to honour artists whose works have made an outstanding contribution to the arts in Ireland and it assists members in devoting their energies fully to the practice of their art. Members of Aosdána may receive the further honour of Saoi from their peers for singular and sustained distinction in the arts. The President confers the symbol of the office of Saoi, the gold torc. Not more than seven members of Aosdána may hold this honour of Saoi at any one time. Comhairle na Míre Gaile, the national recognition of deeds of bravery awards, was established in 1947, and recognises acts of bravery from all walks of life and all sections of society from persons who attempt to save a life. The annual Volunteer Ireland Awards are presented to recognise people who are unsung heroes and have given time volunteering throughout Ireland. The President is patron of these awards. In addition, as the House will be aware there are many other awards schemes and ceremonies in a range of sectors of society and the economy which recognise contributions to sport, the arts, business and charities. Examples include the Irish Film and Television Academy Awards, the Irish Times Innovation Awards and the RTÉ Sports Person of the Year Award. Ireland has always celebrated its successes, with many well attended receptions at national and local level over the decades.

While the Government will not oppose this Bill, I should note that this would not necessarily imply acceptance of all the detail of the Senator's Bill and there are elements of the proposal as is on which we would have some reservations. For example, consideration would have to be given to the membership of the awarding council in order to give confidence that any such council could be said to be properly representative of all strands of modern society. I would note also a likely constitutional difficulty that would need to be addressed arising from the provisions of Article 13.11 of the Constitution, referring to the exercise of powers conferred on the President by law. At a minimum, the Bill would need to be amended in respect of the process of appointments to the proposed awarding council in order to be compliant with the Constitution. I reiterate also the Government’s view that all-party consensus on such a proposal would be an essential feature of developing such a scheme. I thank the House again for the opportunity to have this interesting debate on the topic, and I thank Senators for their contributions.