Caroline Simons – Libertas MEP Candidate, Dublin and the Coat of Arms of Ireland

Some of you may know of my pedantic-ness for Protocol. Protocol exists in order to ensure the smooth flowing of operations, and so nobody gets confused.

The Coat of Arms of Ireland was originally granted to the Irish State in 1943, by the Office of the Chief Herald based in the National Library of Ireland. The Coat of Arms follows on from a tradition of the use of the Gold Harp in Irish insignia in official circumstances after 1937. The Coat of Arms of Ireland is sometimes seen very plainly on the Presidential Standard, however the Coat of Arms is encased in a Crest emblem with an Upright Gold Harp, with white  strings on a field/background of St.Patrick’s Blue.

Thus the ownership of the Coat of Arms of Ireland, along with other  insignia is that of the States and/or the Agents of the State. The 1937 Presidential Seal Act makes reference to the ownership of the Presidential Seal as that of the Office of the Presidential Commission or that of the President, which follows on from the ownership of the Great Seal of Ireland which was used by the Governor General of Ireland. In more recent times indeed the use of the Gold Harp requires the expressed permission of the Government of the Republic of Ireland before it can be used in any Grant of Arms by the Office of the Chief Herald. The 1996 Trade Marks Act, Section 9 explicitly requires the permission of the State with regards “Special Emblems”…

9.—(1) A trade mark which consists of or contains any State emblem of Ireland or any insignia or device so nearly resembling such emblem that it may be mistaken for such emblem shall not be registered unless the Controller is satisfied that consent for its registration has been given by the Minister.
(2) A trade mark which consists of or contains a representation of the national flag of the State, as defined by Article 7 of the Constitution, shall not be registered if it appears to the Controller that the use of the trade mark would be misleading or grossly offensive.
(3) The Controller may refuse to register a trade mark which consists of or contains any badge, device or emblem of a public authority unless such consent as is required by rules is obtained.

Thus you can imagine my surprise to see what looks like the Coat of Arms of Ireland on the Libertas MEP Candidate for Dublin, Caroline Simons. As you will see below, underneath Ms. Simmons left shoulder is a crest, with a blue St. Patrick’s’ field with an upright Gold Harp and what looks like silver strings. The very idea that ANY candidate would include what appears to be the Coat of Arms of Ireland or a crest which certainly on a brief passing could be suggestive to be the Coat of Arms of Ireland is staggering.

Miss Simons is not an Agent of the State that I am aware of, nor is she a member of Oireachtas na hÉireann so I am incredibly perplexed and confused as to why she believes she has the authority to include the Coat of Arms of Ireland or an emblem which bears an uncanny resemblance to the Coat of Arms of Ireland on her posters and on her literature.

So Miss Simons, care to respond?! We shall wait and see.

I wish to point out that I have no affiliations at this time to any parties. As you will see from my previous post on the necessity of voting, I believe in voting in what you believe in so long as your opinion is informed.