Ireland is reopening its Vatican Embassy, here's the new Ambassador...
Emma Madigan will be in charge of Ireland’s slimmed down presence in the Holy See.
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Emma Madigan will be in charge of Ireland’s slimmed down presence in the Holy See.
Department of Foreign Affairs officials have been discussing the still-controversial closure of the Vatican embassy 26 months ago. It has since been decided to reopen it.
Eamon Gilmore said the scaled-back embassy will have a staff of just one person and will help Ireland to engage directly with the leadership of Pope Francis.
The new scaled-back presence in the Holy See is about Pope Francis’ view on worldwide poverty and hunger according to the Tánaiste.
There is no plan to re-establish a resident embassy to the Holy See in the immediate term says Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore
Labour has cited savings of €845,000 stemming from the closure of the Embassy of the Holy See in Ireland, and says that it will not be reopened in the immediate future.
The party will also discuss international affairs, justice and equality and local government.
Eamon Gilmore tells the Dáil that the Holy See embassy closure could be revisited if the Vatican relaxes rules on dual embassies.
The Tánaiste reiterated that the government will review the decision when Ireland’s financial circumstances improve.
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Archbishop Diarmuid Martin made the call as he welcomed the new Papal Nuncio to Ireland in Dublin today.
The most reverend Charles J Brown is one of three ambassadors who presented Letters of Credence to the President today.
Enda Kenny says if the Pope visits Ireland, he’ll be treated with the appropriate “decorum”. Would you like to see him visit?
Taoiseach Enda Kenny accuses Micheál Martin of ‘hyping up’ the closure of Ireland’s embassy to the Holy See.
Seán Donlon – a former chief civil servant and ambassador – says Ireland has lost the chance to influence Church policy.
Fianna Fáil Senator Jim Walsh said he was “extremely disappointed” that the motion had been defeated.
Enda Kenny says the EU-IMF bailout supersedes the new European deal, and that Ireland’s access to funding is safe.
Fine Gael TDs have called for the decision to close the Irish embassy in the Vatican to be reviewed.
Eamon Gilmore says it’s possible that a recovery in the public finances may allow Ireland to reopen its Holy See embassy.
In a statement, the Catholic bishops said: “A state’s foreign policy should include respect for the spiritual values of its citizens”.
The move has been condemned as part of the government’s “attack on Catholic culture”.