Dáil debate rages over Vatican embassy closure

Claims that keeping the Irish embassy in the Vatican open would help combat clerical child abuse were dismissed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

In fierce Dáil exchanges, the Taoiseach accused Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin of “hyping-up” the controversial move to shut-down the embassy to the Holy See.

Mr Martin branded the remarks “unworthy” and said he had rejected a similar move to close the embassy while he was Foreign Minister, and urged the Government to think again, stating that Irish officials in the Vatican could influence the Holy See’s attitude on many issues.