Taoiseach: Vatican diplomatic change will save €200,000

The Taoiseach has denied any further souring of relations between Ireland and the Vatican after the decision to close the Irish Embassy to the Holy See.

Missions in Iran and East Timor are also being shut down to cut costs.

Enda Kenny dismissed any suggestions that the move was related to the fallout from the Cloyne Report into clerical child sex abuse.

"It's part of the comprehensive spending review and reorganisation of our diplomatic corps," he said.

"One of those happens to be the building in which the ambassador to the Holy See attended for many years. We're going to transfer the ambassador to Italy in there, saving the taxpayer €200,000 in annual rent fees in the current building (occupied by the) ambassador to Italy."