Embassies to close in cost-cutting drive

Ireland is to close its embassies in the Vatican and Iran and its representative office in Timor Leste as part of measures to cut Government expenditure, it was announced this evening.

Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore said that the move was being made "with the greatest regret and reluctance".

"In order to meet its targets under the EU/IMF programme and to restore public expenditure to sustainable levels, the Government has been obliged to implement cuts across a wide range of public services," Mr Gilmore said.

The decision follows a review of overseas missions carried out by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

"While the Embassy to the Holy See is one of Ireland’s oldest missions, it yields no economic return," Mr Gilmore continued.

"The Government believes that Ireland’s interests with the Holy See can be sufficiently represented by a non-resident Ambassador."

Mr Gilmore added that trade volumes with Iran, where Ireland has had an embassy since 1976, had also fallen short of expectations.