Govt may review decision to close Vatican embassy

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has said that the Government may review its decision to close the Irish embassy in the Vatican, economic considerations permitting.

The issue was addressed at the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting last night.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore announced the closure of the embassy last year - in his capacity as Foreign Affairs Minister - and said the move was made on economic grounds.

Today Minister Varadkar said the Government may review that decision, but it would depend on the economic circumstances of the country.

Minister Varadkar said Fine Gael and Labour made the original closure decision jointly, and the coalition partners are not split on the matter.

"The decision was taken by both parties in the context of very difficult economic times, where we couldn't justify having two ambassadors and two embassy buildings in one city (Rome)," he said.

"But perhaps if economic circumstances allow in a few years' time, we may be able to reopen that embassy."

Taoiseach Enda Kenny however subsequently moved to play down speculation that the decision would be reversed.

Speaking in Dublin Castle today Mr Kenny said the Government had made its decision and would review all of its operations on an annual basis.

He also said the Government would issue Pope Benedict XVI with an invitation to visit Ireland if it believed such an invitation were likely to be accepted.

"The Irish Bishops have sent an invitation to the Holy See for the Pope to attend the Eucharistic Congress" he said.

"If an indication is given that the Pope intends to attend at the Eucharistic Congress - or at some subsequent event here in Ireland - the Government will be very happy to extend an invitation to the Pope and we'll treat him with due courtesy."