Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 December 2022
263. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide details of the panel that makes the decisions regarding the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards and the criteria on which nominees are judged. [60842/22]
View answerThe opening of nominations for the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards scheme is advertised each year by our embassies and consulates and nominations must then be submitted to them within a specified time period.
The Head of Mission forwards the nominations to the Department of Foreign Affairs with an assessment, recommendation and any supporting documentation for consideration by the High Level Panel, which considers all nominations and makes recommendations to the Government.
The Panel consists of the Secretaries General to the President, of the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs and four external nominees - two nominated by the President and one each by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The current external members are Ms. Claire Power, Ms. Catríona Crowe, Mr. Kingsley Aikins, and Ms. Samantha Barry.
In order to be eligible for consideration, nominees must be habitually resident outside the island of Ireland, and must satisfy the following requirements:
- have rendered distinguished service to the nation and/or its reputation abroad;
- have actively and demonstrably contributed to Ireland and/or its international reputation and/or Irish communities abroad;
- have a track record of sustained support and engagement with Ireland and/or its international reputation and/or Irish communities abroad over a period of not less than five years; or
- have given sustained and distinguished service on a global or international issue of importance.
