Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 14: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress, if any, he has made to date in securing an agreement with the Vatican over the use of the Irish embassy to Italy in Rome as a dual host to an ambassador to the Holy See; if a timeframe exists for its re-establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33528/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As I have stated previously in this House, the decision to close the resident Embassy to the Holy See will not be reversed in the immediate term. However, in the context of the budgetary situation, I will continue to review the deployment of our diplomatic resources overseas. Any discussions with the Holy See on arrangements whereby it might be possible to re-establish a resident Embassy at a future date are best conducted in confidence and I do not intend to comment further on the matter.