Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Vatican embassy closure ‘nothing to do with Cloyne’

ENDA KENNY faced down criticism of the Government’s move to close the embassy to the Holy See, arguing that it would save taxpayers money and was unrelated to his recent criticism of the Vatican. 

But critics of the decision claimed it would cause a "rupture" in relations between the state and the Church, while Vatican sources said it was a blow to the Holy See’s prestige.

Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore this week announced the closure of three Irish embassies, including the Vatican, which has been home to an Irish embassy since 1929.

The three closures will save €1.25 million annually. 

But the Villa Spada embassy will not be sold. Instead, staff working in the embassy to Italy in Rome, which is a rented premises and costs €200,000 annually, will be transferred to Villa Spada.

Head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady, said he was "disappointed" with the decision, while there were reports that other countries which feel missions are too expensive may follow Ireland’s example.

But Taoiseach Enda Kenny stood over the cost-saving measure. He denied that the closure was linked to tension between Church and state after his Dáil attacks on the Vatican earlier this year following the publication of the Cloyne clerical sex abuse report.

The decision was "nothing to do with the issue of Cloyne", he said.

"The connection and contact I’ve had since my contribution to the Dáil has been one of compliment and also an encouragement to work with Government in seeing that this is put right and never happens again.

"I’m not going to comment on Cardinal Brady’s reaction. This is Government business and Government have made a clear decision here. It’s part of the comprehensive spending review and reorganisation of our diplomatic corps."