Reverse Vatican move

The government must reverse its short-sighted decision to withdraw Ireland’s resident ambassador to the Holy See.

I strongly believe that this decision was ill-judged, wrong and improper by any objective test of international diplomacy.

The decision is out of step with the vast majority of other EU member states and all countries with large Catholic populations. Consecutive Irish governments have pursued this policy since 1929 when the Vatican City state was first founded.

The closure of our Embassy to the Holy See will save very little in monetary terms, when compared to the lost diplomatic opportunities. Diplomacy is a two-way process and not a one-way process, as this government clearly believes.

Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP

Dungloe

Co. Donegal