There was a letter in the Irish Times today from a correspondent in Belfast, bemoaning that fact that the Republic of Ireland lacks an honours system, and so could not bestow a meaningful honour on her most famous artist, Louis le Brocquy, on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

"If he were a British subject, he would probably by now have received a high honour of some sort."

[…]

"Why should the Irish Republic eschew a system of honours to recognise the acheivements of its citizens?"

Well, with the current "cash for honours" controversy in Britain, I'd reckon we're as well off without one. Indeed, my opposition to an honours system could be summed up six words.

Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare.