Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 42: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans regarding our embassy to the Vatican; when this embassy will be reopened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24812/12]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 43: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with regard to the embassy to the Holy See, if he believes that this is a cost saving measure; the amount of money that will actually be saved in a 12 month period by its closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24813/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 43 together.

The Government's decision to close Ireland's resident Embassy to the Holy See was taken with the greatest regret and reluctance. It was driven by economic factors deriving from our need to cut public expenditure and focus the modest resources of our diplomatic service on economic recovery. The logic for closure was based on the fact that the Embassy was not involved in consular services or trade promotion and that essential issues of Church-State relations could be handled relatively well by a non-resident Ambassador.

The Government nominated the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. David Cooney, as non-resident Ambassador to the Holy See. His nomination was accepted, and Mr. Cooney presented his credentials to Pope Benedict on 4 May 2012. Net savings in respect of the closure of the resident Embassy to the Holy See are estimated at €400,000 this year and €845,000 in 2013. These projections take into consideration the relocation of the offices of the Embassy to Italy and the residence of the Ambassador to Italy to the state-owned Villa Spada. It is expected that the transfer will be completed during the course of the present year and that the full year rental savings, amounting to €445,000, will be realised in 2013. As I have previously stated in this House, the decision to close the resident Embassy to the Holy See will not be reversed in the immediate term. However, as the economic situation improves, and in the context of the regular review of our diplomatic network, it may be possible to revisit the matter at some time in the future.