Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 February 2012
66 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will reverse the decision to close Ireland’s embassy in the Vatican; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6110/12]
View answerAs was outlined in my statement of 3 November last year, the decision of the Government to close our embassy to the Holy See and to appoint a non-resident Ambassador was driven by economic factors deriving from our need to cut public expenditure and focus the modest resources of our diplomatic service on economic recovery. The total cost saving in a full year is estimated at €845,000. The Government will continue to review our diplomatic network and it may be that, as public finances recover, we will at some time in the future be able to reopen a modest resident embassy to the Holy See.
