Below is the full text of the statment from Cardinal Sean Brady, archbishop of Armagh
and Primate of Alll Ireland, regarding the Irish government's decision to close its
embassy to the Holy See.
The Irish government has decided to close their embassy
at the Vatican. Cardinal Séan Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland,
has issued the following statement this evening in response to the news. An Tánaiste
and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Eamon Gilmore TD, phoned me this afternoon to
inform me that the Irish Government has decided not to appoint a residential ambassador
to the Holy See. The Tánaiste expressed the view that this was a regrettable but
necessary decision in the light of the current economic situation and it is not related
to recent exchanges between the Government and the Holy See. I wish to express
my profound disappointment at this decision which means that Ireland will be without
a resident ambassador to the Holy See for the first time since diplomatic relations
were established and envoys were exchanged between the two States in 1929. I know
that many others will share this disappointment. This decision seems to show little
regard for the important role played by the Holy See in international relations and
of the historic ties between the Irish people and the Holy See over many centuries.
It is worth recalling that for the new Irish State the opening of diplomatic relations
with the Holy See in 1929 was a very significant moment. It was very important in
asserting the identity and presence of the Irish Free State internationally in view
of the fact that Irish diplomatic representation abroad was then confined to the Legation
in Washington, the Office of the High Commissioner in London, the Permanent Delegate
to the League of Nations, and the Embassy to the Holy See. I hope that despite
this regrettable step, the close and mutually beneficial co-operation between Ireland
and the Holy See in the world of diplomacy can continue - based on shared commitment
to justice, peace, international development and concern for the common good. I
look forward to a time when the Government will again appoint a resident ambassador
to the Holy See. I hope that today's decision will be revisited as soon as possible
and that it can be addressed at the next meeting of the Church-State structured dialogue.