Saturday, February 25, 2012

Vatican embassy closure may be revisited, says Gilmore

MINISTER FOR Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore suggested that a relaxation of the Vatican’s demands could influence a future decision on reopening the Irish embassy there.

Mr Gilmore said that as the economic situation improved, and in the context of the regular review of the diplomatic network, it might be possible to revisit the matter in the future.

“If the Vatican is prepared to relax its current requirements so as to allow the State-owned Villa Spada to serve as a location for both our Embassy to Italy and our embassy to the Holy See, this can be taken into account in any future considerations.’’

Mr Gilmore repeated that the decision not to have a resident ambassador would “not be reversed in the immediate term’’.

The unavoidable budget cut and reduction in staff numbers, which necessitated the closure, were still in effect, he added. 

The saving in a year was an estimated €845,000. 

Some €400,000 would come from the closure of the resident embassy to the Holy See, while €445,000 would be saved from the transfer of Ireland’s Embassy to Italy to the Villa Spada. 

The non-resident Ambassador, department secretary general David Cooney, was expected to present his credentials to Pope Benedict XVI in May.

Fianna Fáil foreign affairs spokesman Seán Ó Feargháil said the issue would not go away. 

Sean Donlon, who had given distinguished service in the department, had raised fundamental questions about the Minister’s decision.

“If the Minister reads the interesting letter in The Irish Times today from Mr Michael Lillis, he can see the role that the Vatican played in informing those who were involved in an initiative in Cuba in 1988.’’ 

Mr Gilmore said he welcomed the advice of former diplomats. 

“In one case, we are talking about a former diplomat who resigned from the diplomatic service a quarter of a century ago.”