Vatican embassy issue 'may be revisited in year or two'

The issue of reopening the Vatican embassy may be revisited in a year or two.

The Secretary General at the Department of Foreign Affairs, David Cooney, told the Public Accounts Committee that talks were on-going on working out a more flexible arrangement with the Holy See.

He said the Vatican was unlikely to cooperate if the negotiations were made public and said people who wanted to see the embassy re-opened would be better served by keeping quiet.

"They have their rules. They may make exceptions, but they don't want to broadcast their exceptions," he said.

"I think people who really want to see progress on this, the best thing they could do is just let things happen quietly. If the issue is to be revisited, I would say it's more likely to happen in a year or two."