Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

Senator Leyden's intervention was another attempt at a phoney spat regarding the Vatican. He was an absolute holy show. I am as big a supporter as anyone in this Chamber or in the other House of having an embassy to the Vatican in Rome. However, it should be remembered that in this case, there is no diminution whatsoever of ambassadorial service. The previous ambassador retired but Mr. David Cooney, the Secretary General of the Department, is a full ambassador. There is no withdrawal of an ambassador-----