Comments on: An Irish honours system http://oconallstreet.com/2007/11/20/an-irish-honours-system/ Borderless thoughts on Politics, Public Affairs, the media and anything else that matters from Conall McDevitt, SDLP MLA for South Belfast Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:54:47 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: El Matador http://oconallstreet.com/2007/11/20/an-irish-honours-system/comment-page-1/#comment-108 El Matador Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:03:43 +0000 http://oconallstreet.com/2007/11/20/an-irish-honours-system/#comment-108 I know the French and Americans have similar systems, but such a scheme is a little too close to royal honours for my liking. In a republic, everyone should be equal. People's achievements should be good enough to stand in their own right- anything that elevates them above other people surely runs against the idea of equality for citizens. Apart from that, while there would no doubt be worthy recipients of such honours, it is true that the usual party cronies and 'generous' businessmen would make up a large proportion of those who get the nod. I know the French and Americans have similar systems, but such a scheme is a little too close to royal honours for my liking. In a republic, everyone should be equal. People’s achievements should be good enough to stand in their own right- anything that elevates them above other people surely runs against the idea of equality for citizens.

Apart from that, while there would no doubt be worthy recipients of such honours, it is true that the usual party cronies and ‘generous’ businessmen would make up a large proportion of those who get the nod.

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