The award was started in 1972 by global investor Sir John Templeton to remedy what he saw as an oversight by the Nobel Prizes, which do not honour the discipline of religion.
In his speech, the chancellor promised to honour past spending commitments and do more in the future.
"What all the lawmakers and their constituencies and the nation at large want to do at this time is mourn the great loss and honour the late prime minister, " he is quoted as saying.
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That was hardly a recipe for the sort of confidence some Welsh fans and pundits were displaying ahead of the clash with Australia, a team honour-bound by national tradition to do all in their power to redeem themselves in the eyes of a hyper-critical public and media.
Mr Visscher added that the honour also reflected the work his colleagues do, and the support they give him.
"This was never something I aspired to do but to be selected is a great honour, " said the 29-year-old, who has made 62 Test appearances for Ireland and who got the nod ahead of his international skipper Brian O'Driscoll.
But I ask the marchers to understand this: I do not seek unpopularity as a badge of honour.
"For me personally it's a great honour and it spurs me on to do more to tackle some of the big challenges that we face, " he said.
For all its teething troubles, the fund has proved a good way for world leaders to honour their pledges to do more for international public health.
"The only promise I have for you in the interim is that as an Ashanti I won't do anything to soil our image, " he told a reception organised in his honour by the King of Ashanti, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
All those who suffered rejoice this morning and look forward to the day when an Ulster Assembly will come into being that can look the rest of the world in the eye with honour and respect for what they are meant to be as a people who do not reward evil deeds with positions of power.
"We have set ourselves the objective to qualify for Tunisia and since that is our objective, we will do all we can to honour that pledge, " he said.
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