Leo Varadkar 'reluctant' to introduce honours system

Taoiseach cautions that, internationally, honours are often bestowed due to the person's connections — and that some recipients later 'turn out to be undeserving of their honours'

Referring to proposals to introduce an Irish honours system, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: 'I’d be reluctant to go down the route quite frankly and I think I can speak for the Government in that regard.'  Picture: Damien Storan /PA

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that he would be “reluctant” to introduce an Irish honours system, saying that often people can receive honours for “the wrong reasons”.

Speaking outside Government Buildings on Tuesday evening, Mr Varadkar said that there would be significant “reluctance and unease” to introduce an honours system in Ireland.