Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy has noted, the decision in respect of the embassy to the Vatican and a number of others was made on cost grounds. We have to measure everything. However, the Irish ambassador to the Vatican was not withdrawn. That phraseology suggests we no longer have an ambassador to the Vatican. The Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the Irish ambassador to the Vatican. The commitments made by the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach still stand and will be considered in the normal way.

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