Ireland ranks sixth in World Bank and PwC's ease of paying taxes report

It was great to see so many Irish nominations for Oscar awards last week. Most professions have their honours systems, accolades for professional people granted by their peers to honour and recognise achievement.

Many awards in the arts are made following what is, by definition, a highly subjective process.

It is not possible to be fully objective if awards are to be granted for disciplines like acting and literature, or accolades are to be handed out for musicianship or cookery.