A system which could see awards given out to Irish citizens would only go to celebrities or wealthy people, according to Shane Coleman.
On Monday, Green Party TD Patrick Costello said he believes it is the right time for Ireland to look at having our own honours system.
The Dublin TD was responding to reports the UK did not seek permission from the Irish Government to award honours to Irish citizens on five occasions in the last 30 years.
Deputy Costello suggested Ireland should have its own system so that such people could be recognised here.
Newstalk Breakfast host Shane Coleman said he believes such a system would never reward ordinary people.
"These awards, no matter what way you do it, they're always given to either celebs or to people who are wealthy," he said.
"It's the people who've already had a leg up in life who don't need any further awards.
"They're a back-slapping exercise.
"We live in a Republic, all citizens are equal, all citizens should be treated as equal.
"My problem with awards like this is it recognises the big film star, or the guy who's head of a big charity - great, I'm not knocking those things.
"It doesn't recognise the single mother who works two jobs to send her kids to school, it doesn't recognise the person who spends their whole career looking after people with intellectual disabilities."
'Recognition of what they do'
Fellow host Jonathan Healy said a lot of people get awards for charitable work.
"What we always get a little bit obsessed about is when somebody gets an OBE across the water it's always going to be the rock star," he said.
"There are loads of people who get lesser awards across the water in recognition of their community work, in recognition of what they do to support charities.
"Take somebody like J.P. McManus - a very rich man, very successful at what he does - he has given €103 million to charity from his funding".
Shane claimed Jonathan was actually proving his point.
"He's a tax exile; good luck to the man, he's entitled to live wherever he wants - but are we seriously arguing that we should give [him] an award?" he said.
Legislation was introduced into the Seanad earlier this year that could see Irish people honoured and given the title of Gradam an Uachtaráin - 'The President's Honour.'
It would allow recipients to put the initials 'GU' after their name.
The Private Members' Bill has said the scheme would recognise "the exceptional achievements" of citizens and "the outstanding contributions of others."
