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Prime Minister slams suggestion that sex abuse row prompted embassy closure

Irish PM rejects claims that his row with the Vatican is behind the decision to close Ireland’s embassy to the Holy See

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Monday, November 7, 2011, 8:01 AM

Updated Monday, November 7, 2011, 11:38 AM

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Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny

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Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny has reacted angrily to claims that his row with the Vatican is behind the decision to close Ireland’s embassy to the Holy See.

The government leader has categorically refuted that the closure is down to anything other than economic reality.

Fianna Fail’s deputy leader Eamon O Cuiv challenged Kenny to admit his row with the Catholic Church over the Cloyne Report was the real reason behind the decision to close the embassy at the Vatican.

Ireland’s Catholic Church hierarchy, at loggerheads with Kenny over his response to the Cloyne report on clerical sex abuse in the Cork diocese, have also slated the embassy’s withdrawal.

Cardinal Sean Brady and Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin have both condemned the government’s controversial move as relations between Church and State deteriorate.

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Now Kenny has come out fighting and repeated the claims made by his Foreign Affairs Minister that the move is purely a cost cutting exercise.

“The decision has nothing to do with the issue of Cloyne,” insisted Prime Minister Kenny.

“The connection and contact I’ve had since my contribution to the Dáil has been one of compliment and also an encouragement to work with Government in seeing that this is put right and never happens again.

“I’m not going to comment on Cardinal Brady’s reaction. This is Government business and Government have made a clear decision here. It’s part of the comprehensive spending review and reorganisation of our diplomatic corps.”

Nster.com

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kwhitesure | Nov 07, 2011, 08:29 PM EST

It seems that the Vatican would be encouraging the Irish government in trying to cut unnecessary costs...they have discontinued embassies in two other countries. The important thing at this point is to get the government back on track financially..for the good of the people...that seems like a Christ-like" thing to do. It impresses me that the Vatican is more concerned about how things look to the rest of the world...and truly there are far more important issues that they should be concerned about!

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cillowen | Nov 07, 2011, 05:29 PM EST

Nothing will be done about such abuse - such a tribe has goys scour in their pants when it comes to g-d's own.

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cillowen | Nov 07, 2011, 05:28 PM EST

test

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NoraLogan | Nov 07, 2011, 12:36 PM EST

good riddance to bad connections

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joan1954 | Nov 07, 2011, 09:25 AM EST

Granted that the number of embassies around the world may be a luxury Ireland can't afford but has Ireland forgotten that the Vatican is a separate state from Italy? In attempting to move its Italian embassy to the Vatican one, which it owns could be violating the concordat that the Italian state made with the Vatican in 1929. Another are where costs could be made, would be to close the Atlanta consulate and move it to Houston. Atlanta is still east coast US and Houston isn't. Enda may angrily deny the issue of the closure but with a Labour taniste and, well perhaps, "Catholic" Ireland is dead. There is too much of a coincidence.

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gobdawpaddy | Nov 07, 2011, 08:30 AM EST

Embassies in every corner of the world is simply a luxury that Ireland cannot afford. The Irish government is correct in its austerity measures. I read today where the Justice minister was recently refused permission to use a government jet which saved the taxpayer EUR 17,000. On a recent visit to the Dail I was told that the infamous 'dail bar' is a much quieter place since the new government took power. The yahooism appears to have diminished and the new crowd are taking their job very seriously. I wish them luck.

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