Sir, – Announcing the closure of the Vatican embassy, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore noted that while the embassy to the Holy See is one of Ireland’s oldest diplomatic missions, “it yields no economic return”. President Higgins said in his inaugural address, “Now it is time to turn to an older wisdom that, while respecting material comfort and security as a basic right of all, also recognises that many of the most valuable things in life cannot be measured.”
Surely Catholic spirituality, which has informed over 1500 years of Irish history, is one of the immeasurable things he had in mind? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – No doubt the €700,000 gained from closing our embassy in the Vatican, will go towards the “perks” that the now Taoiseach Enda Kenny had promised while in Opposition, that he and his Ministers would not claim, but are now claiming.
Is there a politician anywhere, who can be trusted? – Yours, etc,