Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Diplomacy is far more than an economic exercise (Comment)

WHEN a new foreign minister in a new Irish Government starts closing down embassies, we should be worried.

That the Labour party in Government is delighting in thumbing its nose at the Vatican should concern us, but when diplomatic networks and contacts built over generations with what is probably the world’s best connected information hub are wiped out, that seems downright reckless and we should be scared.

And the reason? 

Mr Gilmore apparently realised that there is no economic return from the Holy See! Since when was international diplomacy an economic enterprise or measured as such? These are not the values of the Irish people who send peacekeepers, missionaries, development workers, not to mention our diaspora, around the world with "no economic return". 

We have other multilateral missions where there is no return. These are Celtic Tiger values, which one might have thought we’d left behind, but it seems we’re back to gauging values in terms of pure economic profit.

178 other sovereign states who have relations with the Holy See beg to differ with our new minister. The British Government which already has a sophisticated diplomatic global network describes the Holy See as ‘a valuable listening post’ to the world. 

Their website boasts of becoming closer in their relations over international development issues and dialogue about freedom of religion and expression, as well as climate change, disarmament. Nigel Baker, the British ambassador to the Holy See marvels at the "extraordinary network of Catholic agencies" open to him.

At a time when we are on our knees economically, we need to use whatever avenues we can, push whatever doors we find to promote brand Ireland.

This decision is out of tune with the spirit of the Irish people — to give, to get involved, to contribute, to reach into the furthest parts of the globe and to seek to assist at the deepest levels of others — mind, body and soul.

Mr Gilmore’s decision to close Ireland’s embassy to the Holy See has certainly got all of the hallmarks of a rushed decision by an inexperienced minister who is part of a Government that is very new to office and barely tested in terms of its ability to discern and give leadership.

History will give us much time to analyse this move — which certainly forms "a rupture" in relations which date back to the 5th century.

Mr Gilmore is a member of a party that is over-anxious to renegotiate the Church/State relationship — a shrewder politician would have allowed for more blue water between this decision and the earlier (still unexplained) excesses of both the Tánaiste and Taoiseach this summer.

Another vital opportunity, now lost, was the chance to influence the restructuring of the Irish Catholic Church which the Vatican is currently considering. We could have demanded more transparent structures, more democratic structures and had influence on the kind of bishops we want appointed here. Now our voice is silenced.

The short-termism of this is also evident in the lack of understanding that the Catholic Church still has a role to play in Irish society, a society that lost its way ethically. 

Yes, the Church lost its way around child protection but the State’s hands are not clean either. 
We’ve had recriminations, it was time to talk and build something of value, look into the distance at the new Ireland we want to build. 

But as Niccolo Machiavelli, that expert in diplomacy. once said: "There is nothing more difficult to carry out… than to initiate a new order of things." 

That requires statesmanship and patience.

In short, is this decision an extension of a man who doesn’t understand diplomacy, and if so, what decisions will he be making — and with what consequence? We should be afraid.

*Garry O’Sullivan is editor of The Irish Catholic newspaper