Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 50: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide the background for the decision made to close the Irish Embassy in the Vatican; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33899/11]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As outlined in my statement on Thursday last, it was with the greatest regret and reluctance that a decision had to be made to close Ireland's Embassies to the Holy See and Iran and its representative office in Timor Leste. This decision is in line with the tough choices that the Government must make to address the current economic challenges that face the country.

Our targets under the EU/IMF programme and our need to reduce public expenditure mean that cuts to public expenditure must be made across a wide range of public services, including our diplomatic service.

The decision to close the three Missions followed a thorough review of the overseas diplomatic network in which particular attention was paid to the promotion of Irish economic interests and the economic return from missions abroad.

Diplomatic relations will be maintained with these three States and I can assure the Deputy that we intend to continue our active engagement with the Holy See, Iran and Timor Leste. However, our diplomatic network needs to be flexible and responsive to changing circumstances. The Government believes that our relations can be sufficiently dealt with by a non-resident Ambassador to each of the States concerned. As regards the Embassy to the Holy See, the Government is of the view that our interests can be sufficiently secured by a non-resident Ambassador. The Government has nominated a senior Dublin-based diplomat to this position.

The intention is to relocate the offices of the Embassy to Italy and the residence of the Ambassador to Italy to the Villa Spada, the present premises of the Embassy to the Holy See. Given that the Villa Spada is owned by the State, this will allow a considerable saving in annual rental costs. It will also retain a useful asset for the State as the platform from which the Embassy to Italy can promote Irish interests in that country.