Cathal BarryTánaiste has ‘no plans’ to reopen Vatican Embassy
The Government has “no plan” to reopen the Irish Embassy to the Holy See, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has said.
In a written response to a question posed by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, Foreign Minister Gilmore said he “will be keeping the deployment of our diplomatic and consular resources under review in light of ongoing national priorities and the availability of resources”.
However, the Tánaiste said “there is no plan to re-establish a resident embassy to the Holy See in the immediate term”.
Maintained
Minister Gilmore also said the appointment of the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs as non-resident ambassador to the Vatican would ensure contact with the Holy See is “maintained at the highest possible diplomatic level”.
“The ambassador travels to Rome regularly and I am satisfied that the current arrangement for Ireland’s representation at the Holy See is the most effective possible in light of the resource constraints faced by my Department,” he said.