Seanad debates

Thursday, 2 February 2012

Priorities in Foreign Affairs: Statements

 

4:00 pm

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

We are talking about two embassies in Rome. It was in that context that the decision was taken to discontinue having a resident embassy in the Vatican. I wish to be very clear that our diplomatic relations with the Vatican are good. The Government has decided to appoint the Secretary General of my Department, David Cooney, to be the ambassador to the Holy See and to service that mission from Dublin. There are some indications that the Vatican may be willing to show some flexibility with regard to the co-location of embassies and offices and then we will continue to explore those possibilities. If circumstances improve, we can re-examine the position, but at the moment, the position is as it is and we do not have a resident ambassador to the Vatican. The ambassador, David Cooney, will continue to service the Vatican.

In that context there has been some media speculation regarding a possible invitation to Pope Benedict XVI to visit Ireland. The normal practice in the case of visits at this level is that an indication is given whether Pope Benedict in this case would accept an invitation. In the case of the visit of Queen Elizabeth II, the Government of the day did not simply write a letter inviting Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland. A lot of tick-tacking was carried out and the indication was that she would accept an invitation. Both the Taoiseach and I have made it clear publicly that if there is such an indication from the Vatican, then the Irish Government will issue an invitation to Pope Benedict XVI to visit Ireland. To date, the Government has not had an indication that such an invitation would be accepted. If there is an indication that he wishes to come to Ireland, the Irish Government will issue an invitation and there is no ambiguity in that regard.

Senator Bacik asked about China. The Minister for Education and Skills is in the process of having discussions with China. He is to lead a trade delegation to China in the near future which will focus on the education sector. I expect considerable progress to be made between Ireland and China in the education area.

I recently met the foreign minister of India when she visited Ireland to unveil a bust of the Indian poet, Tagore, in St. Stephen's Green. We talked about the development of trade relations between Ireland and India, including in the education area, and this is under way.

In reply to Senator Ó Domhnaill, the office in Taiwan is an Enterprise Ireland office and comes under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton. I will bring the Senator's concerns to his attention. Ireland supports the One China policy. We are anxious to develop trade relations with China. The relationship between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China has been improving in recent times so there may be potential in that regard.

In reply to Senator Quinn, I will pursue the issue of the husband of the Irish woman who has been jailed in Sri Lanka. The Senator has supplied details of the case to my Department. That situation is being monitored constantly. The ambassador briefed the Department when he was in Dublin this week. He visits the person in prison regularly. I have been in correspondence with the Sri Lankan authorities urging that the prisoner be released or charged. I will continue to make those representations.

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