Irish Vatican embassy to close

THE Government is to close Ireland’s embassy to the Vatican but has denied that the decision was taken because of the fallout from the Cloyne Report.

Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore insisted the move was aimed at saving money — not a statement of the Government’s displeasure with the Vatican.

Relations between the Government and the Vatican thawed after Taoiseach Enda Kenny delivered a blistering denunciation of the Church following the publication of the Cloyne Report in July.

In that speech, Mr Kenny accused the Holy See of downplaying the torture of children to protect the Vatican’s primacy.

But Mr Gilmore said the Government did not intend to cut diplomatic ties with the Vatican.

While the embassy will close, the country’s most senior civil servant, Martin Fraser, will be appointed as ambassador to the Vatican.

Mr Fraser will fulfil the role from Dublin in addition to his work as secretary general at the Department of the Taoiseach.

“If anything, the publication of the report and its aftermath I think underlines the necessity for us to continue diplomatic relations with the Vatican and to have very good and strong diplomatic relations with the Vatican,” Mr Gilmore said.

The Government has also decided to close the embassy to Iran and its representative office in Timor Leste.

These closures will save circa €1.25 million.