Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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263. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of the panel that makes the decisions regarding the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards and the criteria on which nominees are judged. [60842/22]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The opening of nominations for the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards scheme is advertised each year by our embassies and consulates and nominations must then be submitted to them within a specified time period.

The Head of Mission forwards the nominations to the Department of Foreign Affairs with an assessment, recommendation and any supporting documentation for consideration by the High Level Panel, which considers all nominations and makes recommendations to the Government.

The Panel consists of the Secretaries General to the President, of the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs and four external nominees - two nominated by the President and one each by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The current external members are Ms. Claire Power, Ms. Catríona Crowe, Mr. Kingsley Aikins, and Ms. Samantha Barry.

In order to be eligible for consideration, nominees must be habitually resident outside the island of Ireland, and must satisfy the following requirements:

- have rendered distinguished service to the nation and/or its reputation abroad;

- have actively and demonstrably contributed to Ireland and/or its international reputation and/or Irish communities abroad;

- have a track record of sustained support and engagement with Ireland and/or its international reputation and/or Irish communities abroad over a period of not less than five years; or

- have given sustained and distinguished service on a global or international issue of importance.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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264. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there is a timeframe on posthumous nominations regarding the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards; if so, if this impacts the assessment of a nomination; if posthumous nominations can be resubmitted if unsuccessful; and the way posthumous nominations are assessed against nominations of individuals who are alive. [60843/22]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Presidential Distinguished Service Award (PDSA) for the Irish Abroad recognises the service given to this country or to Irish communities abroad by those who live outside Ireland.

The PDSA has been awarded posthumously to seven individuals and, in order to be eligible for consideration, posthumous nominations must be first submitted within one year of the person’s passing.

All nominations, whether submitted posthumously or for living persons, are assessed on an equal basis by the High Level Panel, and in accordance with set criteria. 

Nominators are free to re-submit unsuccessful nominations should they wish to do so.  

Since the scheme’s inception, the following posthumous awards have been made: