Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

154. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of citizens that have sought permission from the Government to accept a title of nobility or of honour from a foreign Government, to date in 2025; and if he will state the respective foreign Government which sought to make the respective award in each case. [32664/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Article 40.2.2 of the Constitution states that “No title of nobility or of honour may be accepted by any citizen except with the prior approval of the Government.” The reference to "title of nobility or of honour" has been interpreted, in accordance with advice from the Attorney General, as referring to honours conferred by or on behalf of a sovereign authority, the recipients of which become entitled, by the law or custom of the foreign State in question, to use prefixes to their names such as “Sir”, “Dame”, “Lord” or "Marquis”.

If a foreign Government wishes to make any such award to an Irish citizen, the standard practice is that the relevant accredited foreign diplomatic mission (as opposed to the citizen concerned) would notify my Department of the conferral of the award. It is noted that rights, privileges or dignities deriving from the award of a title of nobility or honour subsist solely within the jurisdiction conferring it and any other jurisdiction that may recognise rights, privileges or dignities as flowing from it. Under Irish law, such a title confers no rights, entitlements or dignities. Moreover, awards that provide for the use of letters or marks of distinction after one's name or involve the presentation of medals, ribbons or academic honours are not regarded as conferring a title of nobility or of honour in this context.

Based on a review of records held by my Department, I can confirm that as listed in the table below, the Government has considered one award conferring a “title of nobility or of honour” this year. In this instance, the honour in question was extended to the citizen concerned before the conferral was brought to the attention of the Government. No facility exists for retrospective approval by the Government. My Department regularly reminds the relevant authorities that the prior approval of the Government should be sought where awards of the nature outlined in Article 40.2.2 of the Constitution are to be conferred on an Irish citizen.