Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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118. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason the original plaques on the entrance to the Villa Spada have been removed and replaced with new plaques; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46075/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Following the closure of the Embassy to the Holy See in November 2011, the Embassy to Italy and the residence of the Ambassador to Italy were relocated to the State owned Villa Spada, formerly occupied by the Embassy to the Holy See. The change of plaques represents the change of designation of the building.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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119. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will agree to a meeting with representatives from an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46076/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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In November 2011, the Government announced its decision to close Ireland’s Embassy to the Holy See. This decision 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 closure of the resident embassy to the Holy See has yielded substantial savings as it enabled the significantly larger embassy to Italy, and the residence of the ambassador to Italy, to be relocated to the State-owned Villa Spada, which was formerly occupied by the embassy to the Holy See, thereby saving €445,000 per annum in rent on two properties.

Since then, the organisation to which the Deputy refers has written to me on a number of occasions outlining its opposition to the closure of the Embassy and seeking a meeting to discuss its re-instatement. In response, I have assured the organisation that its views have been noted and have, in turn, set out the Government’s position in relation to the closure of the Embassy. I have advised the organisation that the Embassy to the Holy See will not be re-opened in the immediate term.

I do not believe that it would be helpful, at this point in time, to meet the organisation to discuss the matter.