IRELAND’S AMBASSADOR to France last night revealed how then minister for foreign affairs Frank Aiken outmanoueuvred then minister for finance Seán MacEntee to buy the Irish Embassy in Paris.
Anne Anderson was speaking in French to an audience gathered at Alliance Française ahead of today’s Ireland v France Six Nations rugby match.
She revealed how in 1954 Aiken wanted to buy the building for £150,000 but MacEntee thought this was too extravagant.
For three weeks in December 1954 MacEntee was either ill or out of the country and Aiken assumed both roles of finance and foreign minister.
Ms Anderson said that she had discovered letters written during that period. One letter was from the secretary general of foreign affairs asking for the money on behalf of the minister for foreign affairs (Mr Aiken).
She found a reply the following day from the secretary general at finance granting the purchase on behalf of the minister for finance (also Mr Aiken)
The ambassador outlined the role an envoy can play in building relationships in response to the economic crisis. She spoke of a more open and co-ordinating role for her during this time such as meeting chief executives of companies.
Despite France voting no to the European constitution, they were “perplexed” about the Irish vote against Lisbon, she said.
Ms Anderson said she had a big role in explaining to people that it was not a vote against Europe and tried to make them understand the Irish perspective.
