The Irish way

I AGREE with your correspondent JA Barnwell (‘Not the Irish Way,’ Irish Examiner letters, December 5).

The Irish way is not to award MBEs and OBEs for reasons that may appear obvious to many.

The Irish way is the award of honorary degrees by our prestigious universities.

Perhaps the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, might now consider inaugurating a new Order of St Patrick for Irish citizens who have distinguished themselves in public life.

Clearly there is a significant gap still to be filled in our own honours system.

Dr Gerald Morgan

School of English

Trinity College

Dublin 2