Statement to the Dáil by Ms Kathleen Lynch, TD, on behalf of the Tánaiste regarding the decision to close the Irish Embassy to the Holy See

Topical Issues Debate - 09/02/2012

Statement to the Dáil by Ms Kathleen Lynch, TD, on behalf of the Tánaiste regarding the decision to close the Irish Embassy to the Holy See 

The decision of the Government to close the Embassy of Ireland to the Holy See, as well as Ireland’s Embassy in Tehran and our Mission in Timor Leste, was taken by the Government following a review of overseas missions carried out by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which gave particular attention to the economic return from bilateral missions.   While the review did identify the negative repercussions of closing any overseas missions, it was simply not possible to avoid some cut-back in our mission network given the pressing need to reduce Government expenditure across the board.

It is important to make clear that we have not cut off diplomatic relations with the Holy See. We have simply decided that, in the present circumstances, our Ambassador will operate on a non-resident basis.  This decision to change our representation to the Holy See to non-resident status was driven by economic factors deriving from our need to cut public expenditure and to focus the modest resources of our diplomatic service on economic recovery.  

The total cost saving in a full year is estimated at €845,000. €400,000 of this will come from the closure of the resident Embassy to the Holy See and €445,000 in savings on rental arising from the transfer of the Embassy to Italy to the state-owned Villa Spada. The wind down of the resident Embassy to the Holy See has now been completed and the transfer of the Embassy to Italy to the Villa Spada is underway.

In addition to the immediate financial savings, the nature of the responsibilities of the Embassy to the Holy See, particularly the fact that it not involved in consular work or trade promotion, makes it more suitable than most Embassies to be covered by non-resident accreditation.  Nobody pretends that this is an ideal arrangement but it is the most cost-effective in the current budgetary situation.   

I want to make absolutely clear that, notwithstanding the differences which arose between successive Irish Governments and the Holy See over the past couple of years, the decision in relation to the Embassy was not taken in response to such differences.   If the Government had wanted to make such a statement, it would have done so clearly at the time.

The Government’s decision to nominate the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. David Cooney, as our non-resident Ambassador means that he will be ideally placed to inform the Government of any potential issues with the Vatican, thereby helping to head off difficulties in the future.   The Holy See has agreed Mr, Cooney’s nomination and it is expected that he present his credentials to Pope Benedict in May.

Mr. Cooney has travelled to Rome twice since his nomination for meetings with Vatican officials.   He will represent the State at the Consistory of Cardinals on Saturday 18 February. 

On his previous visit, he attended the ordination of the incoming Nuncio, Archbishop Charles J. Brown, by Pope Benedict and conveyed to Archbishop Brown the best wishes of the President, Government and people of Ireland.  The Government very much look forward to working closely with Archbishop Brown, who arrived in Ireland last week, both in his role as Apostolic Nuncio and as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.   I understand that he is to present his credentials to President Higgins on 16 February.

The Government will continue to review our diplomatic network including, as financial situation improves, the possibility of reopening a resident Embassy to the Holy See on a more modest and more cost effective basis.