Irish honours list - We should be able to say thank you

IT is to be welcomed that Edward Kennedy, one of the longest-serving American senators and a Democratic Party patriarch, is to receive an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth. The honour is one of the highest that country can bestow.

Sen Kennedy’s lifelong contribution to democratic principles has been exemplary and has had a profound and lasting impact, even on this side of the Atlantic. His commitment to progress was most recently seen when he pledged his support to Barack Obama long, long before it was likely — much less certain — that Mr Obama would be elected President of America.

His contribution to the lasting peace being enjoyed on this island today was of the highest significance. His patience and determination, probably facilitated by his remove from the murderous horrors of the conflict, kept powerful men’s doors open and the agenda active even during that darkest days of that conflict.

However, the bestowal of the honour must send a shudder of embarrassment through Ireland’s body politic and society in general — Sen Kennedy and others like him who have made a generational contribution to the wellbeing of this country and its people should have been afforded state-sponsored honours a long time ago. We should have a process that allows us to say “thank you” to those to whom we are indebted; thanks to those who changed our lives and society for the better.

A slap on the back, a bit of Waterford Glass, a few bottles of Paddy and a bunch of shamrock really don’t cut the mustard as we might wish. The absence of an honours list smacks of ingratitude, a lack of grace and a cheapness that does not reflect accurately the warmth of our country or our people.

The threadbare argument so often rehearsed — that a Republic should not have an honours system — should be dismissed once and for all for the lazy tosh that it is. After all, being a republican does not mean you don’t know how to say “thank you” and if America and France can have systems that retains integrity and credibility by honouring only the highest achievements, why can’t we? Of course, in an Irish context, there are all sorts of justifiable concerns.

We would be entitled to be concerned that it would be hijacked by the usual suspects and used for purposes it was never designed for. It is not too hard to imagine some long-serving party hack, comb-over and all, being honoured for his service to the car wash industry or, God help us, pitch-and-putt in Killinaskully.

There is a simple way around this. Take active politicians out of the process and apply the “canvassing will disqualify” rule. We should also agree that this process would not be like the Eurovision and that some years there won’t be any. Every three, five or six years sounds about right.

Though the Council of State numbers many politicians in its ranks it might be a good body to initiate and oversee this process.

Britain has honoured Sen Kennedy, a man who made a huge contribution to establishing peace on this island. Another American, George Mitchell, would be a good first entry on the Irish honours list.

It would be churlish not to resolve this anomaly.