Ireland to close its embassy to the Vatican... but deny it is because of the Church's handling of sex abuse cases

Ireland will close its embassy to the Vatican as part of a cost-cutting programme prompted by the country’s EU-IMF bailout, it

 has emerged.            

Relations between the Irish government and the Vatican, once traditional allies, are at an all-time low over the Church’s handling of sex abuse cases. 

But Eamon Gilmore, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, denied the embassy closure was linked. 

Gilmore told state broadcaster RTE: 'That was not a consideration.

'Our diplomatic relations with the Vatican will continue and they are valued.'  

The Vatican recalled its ambassador to Ireland in July after Prime Minister Enda Kenny accused the Holy See of obstructing investigations into sexual abuse by priests.       

Gilmore said he did not expect the Vatican now to close its mission in Dublin.        

'The fact that we have chosen to close our mission in the Vatican and to have it serviced from Dublin doesn’t necessarily mean that we won’t have a Papal Nuncio here,' he said.  

Ireland is closing three embassies as part of the overhaul, including missions in Iran and Timor Leste, which will save the country around £1million a year. 

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