Today the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, the leader of the opposition Enda Kenny and the Sinn Fein leader in Leinster House, Caoimhghin O’Caolain all said they supported the idea of introducing a National Honours System, while Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said he opposed the idea.

Interesting notion, the idea of an honours system. It is a reward system for contribution to society.

Frankly, I am in favour of it as long as it was not a political rewards system, as long as the awards were clearly awarded for really making a contribution either by using your talent for the benefit of others or for acts of unselfish heroism and so on. It should not be for old fogies that get an award and a pat on the back for sticking with some government job for 50 years.

Also, it must not be a patronising award given to people with handicaps in lieu of actually providing them with real support for their handicap.

Also, we are in danger of bringing ‘unsung heroes’ up on a stage, patting them on the head, telling them that we always thought they were great, playing a bit of nostalgic music over a piece of video that shows their struggle and then when we are finished feeling better about ourselves, we hope that these heroes go away and leave us alone.

No. The honours system will only be a good system if it truly can be a kind of momentum generator for greater civic involvement - more activity in sport, more philanthropy (must blog about that soon), more voluntary work. It cannot be bought by the wealthy, it cannot be about patronising hard working ‘little people’. Make it a proper award. Make it a valuable award of 100,000 Euro for the cause that the person has worked on. That kind of thing.

Otherwise, it risks being a reward for old buddies or a reward for simply being in situ for long enough or simply a way of making the rest of us feel good about ourselves.

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