Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I welcome the significant appointment of Charles Brown as papal nuncio to Ireland and his recent ordination to archbishop by Pope Benedict last week. Archbishop Brown worked closely with Pope Benedict for ten years when he was Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. It shows how important Ireland is on the Vatican's map.

The presence of our most senior and skilled diplomat, David Cooney, as ambassador-designate to Rome, at the ordination ceremony is equally significant. It augurs well for the future of relations between Ireland and the Vatican. We must remember there was no diminution in those relations as full diplomatic relations have been retained.