Government spending on embassies and consulate offices fell by almost 3% last year, achieving savings of €1.6m for the exchequer.

The days of chauffeur-driven cars and Ferrero Rocher chocolate delights are over for Ireland’s ambassadors.

Negotiations to re-open a scaled-down embassy to the Vatican are under way which could see a mission to the Holy See open its doors within the next year or two.

The issue of reopening the Vatican embassy may be revisited in a year or two.

A senior civil servant appointed non-resident ambassador to the Vatican is to open talks with the Pope’s representatives on sharing an embassy building with other diplomats assigned to Rome.

Pope Benedict XVI was scandalised and dismayed by the abuse perpetrated by some members of the clergy and of religious congregations, his new envoy to Ireland said today.

The Pope will be treated with respect if he comes to Ireland, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said as he insisted the closure of the Vatican embassy was not about religion.

The Government was wrong to close Ireland’s embassy to the Vatican, a former head of the Department of Foreign Affairs has said.

IRELAND will reopen its embassy to the Vatican “within the next year or two if economic conditions allow”, European Affairs Minister Lucinda Creighton has predicted.

Using economics to justify closing our embassy to the Holy See prompted one Dublin mother to say stop, writes Mary E Fitzgibbon

JUNIOR Foreign Affairs Minister Lucinda Creighton has backed a campaign to re-open the Irish embassy in the Vatican.

The country's most senior diplomat has said the Irish WikiLeaks revelations only show that ambassadors are doing their job.

An emergency team is expended to travel to Libya today to evacuate Irish citizens stranded in the troubled north African state.

A GROUP of Irish teachers trying to exit Libya were told by the Irish Embassy in Rome to book airline tickets online, even though the internet has been virtually unaccessible since last Friday.

Survivors are believed to be in a collapsed building where an Irishman was caught up in the New Zealand earthquake.

The Israeli Ambassador to Ireland, Dr Zion Evrony, said today that the decision to expel an Israeli official over the use of fake Irish passports in the assassination of a Hamas official was "regretted".

IT’S surprising that a scholar of early 20th century Irish history such as Foreign Minster Micheál Martin has not learnt the lesson of Easter 1916 – when an opponent is defeated, savour your victory, rather than try to humiliate them.

THE stakes have been significantly raised in the Government’s conflict with the public sector unions, with passport workers ready to strike early next week if their pay is docked.

THE stakes have been significantly raised in the Government’s conflict with the public sector unions with passport workers ready to strike early next week if their pay is docked.

COURT injunctions should be issued against unions involved in industrial action at the passport office, Fine Gael’s Alan Shatter has demanded.

Passport services could be shifted to another department or even outsourced to private operators as the applications backlog smashed the 50,000 barrier, top Government officials warned today.

The head of the passport office will today face questions regarding the ongoing industrial dispute that left 40,000 people awaiting travel documents.

THE secret service hit squad blamed for assassinating a Hamas commander were carrying a total of five Irish passports, it emerged last night.

The secret service hit squad blamed for assassinating a Hamas commander were carrying a total of five Irish passports, it emerged tonight.

THE ambassador’s receptions are noted in society for their host’s exquisite taste. And Irish embassies around the world will not have to cut back on the Ferrero Rochers as their allowance and expenses bill, amounting to €8 million a year, escapes public sector cutbacks.

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Micheál Martin is to meet with the Papal Nuncio to Ireland to discuss the Vatican’s failure to supply information to the Dublin archdiocese abuse inquiry.

Ireland’s ambassador to Britain has been appointed as the Government’s top diplomat.

IT is a sign of the times — and a tribute to the political deftness of Ireland’s man in London, David Cooney — that the embassy in Britain will hold its first reception at a Conservative party conference this autumn.

THE association bringing together Waterford Institute of Technology alumni in Ireland and overseas has established a new London chapter.

An Irish diplomat has been appointed head of a key taskforce on United Nations reform, it was confirmed today.

THE Government hasapproved the biggest shake-up of Ireland’s diplomatic representation since the foundation of the State.

One of the accused in the Brian Murphy manslaughter trial told gardaí that a co-accused was "giving it his all" as he delivered four or five hard punches to the deceased youth, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

One of the accused in the Brian Murphy manslaughter trial told his girlfriend two weeks after the 18-year-old died outside the Burlington Hotel that he kicked him once in the chest when he was lying on the ground, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

A promotions company steward who was working at a popular disco on the night an 18-year-old student was kicked to death has told a jury he saw a youth wearing similar clothes to the deceased punch another youth before a big fight broke out.