Seanad debates

Thursday, 2 February 2012

Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements

 

4:00 pm

Photo of Paul CoghlanPaul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

The Tánaiste is very welcome. I thank him for the overview of his role. I salute his work. I welcome the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Cooney, who is also Ireland's ambassador to the Vatican. When the Tánaiste and I met one day for a brief exchange on the matter, we had the same view on how a satisfactory resolution might be achieved. The Tánaiste said in response to Senator Mullins that the ball is now in the Vatican's court. It is our oldest mission and a very important one. I welcome the Tánaiste's decision to review the matter. He has spoken about it elsewhere. I have heard his update on the situation. Now that the new nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown, is in situ, does the Tánaiste agree there is hope and optimism that the matter can be resolved satisfactorily in the short to medium term? Does he think the Vatican will accept that as a small country in economic difficulties, Ireland should be allowed to run two missions from a single location in the way the Tánaiste and I discussed? Perhaps the residences could be separate. I ask the Tánaiste to make a brief further comment on the matter.

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