Irish Red Cross congratulate Chairman David Andrews on Award

The Legion of Honour is France’s most prestigious national order and is presented to people from countries other than France as well as French citizens.

Dominque Perben, the French cabinet minister who presented the award described Mr Andrews as "not only a great Irishman, but also a Francophile and one of France’s most distinguished friends". The French cabinet minister went on to assert that Mr Andrews was 'quite simply "a statesman"'.

The Irish Times, which reported extensively on the presentation reports that Mr Perben cited the political commitment signified by 38 years in Dáil Éireann as one of Mr Andrews’ many achievements.

It went on to note that Mr Andrews' achievements included participation in the first Irish presidency of Europe in 1977, as well as campaigns for the ratification of the Maastricht and Amsterdam treaties. It also noted Mr Andrews’ success in obtaining a seat for Ireland on the UN Security Council and the involvement of Ireland in international mediation in Somalia and East Timor.

Mr Andrews is also commended by Mr Perben for his "faith in the future, experience, character, charisma and open mind". And without Mr Andrews, "the Good Friday agreement would not have happened," the newspaper reports.

Thanking the French for this honour, David Andrews noted that during his two terms as foreign minister and now as chairman of the Irish Red Cross he had "helped to highlight the terrible consequences of humanitarian crises in such places as Somalia, Darfur and East Timor".

Mr Andrews said he had the highest esteem for France and its republican tradition.

He went onto say that he was "privileged to make some very small contribution on some very important matters". He said that he was particularly proud of his role in seeking the freedom of Irish citizens wrongly imprisoned in Britain.

David Andrews closed the ceremony with a tribute to the former Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, whose death was announced on the day of the award ceremony.
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