Sir, – The news that the Government has decided to reopen the embassy to the Vatican (Home News, January 22nd) gave my heart a lift. Two years ago I was dismayed when it was closed but now applaud the courage to seem to do a U-turn.
It is sensible when one makes a wrong turn to recognise it and go back to re- consider. For those in the public eye, that does take courage and I welcome and encourage more of it . – Yours, etc,
BRENDA McGANN,
Carrickbrennan Lawn,
Monkstown, Co Dublin.
Sir, – If there’s a job going for one single diplomat to represent us at the reopened Vatican embassy, I would like Marie Collins to be considered for the post. – Yours, etc,
KEN Mc CUE,
Coleraine Street,
Dublin 7.
Sir, – Now that the Irish embassy to the Holy See is to be reopened, a very suitably qualified candidate for the post would be our former president Mary McAleese, who is currently studying in Rome.
I’m sure the reformist Pope Francis and herself could spend many hours in theological discussion and structural reform in the church over a glass of Chianti in the new austere Irish Ambassador’s residence. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN BUTLER,
The Moorings,
Malahide,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – A Jones (January 22nd) feels we should open embassies in other cities that are holy to religions other than Catholicism, First off the embassy is to the Holy See not the Vatican. The Holy See is the sovereign entity that represents the Catholic Church and is separate from the Vatican City State. Secondly Mecca, Amritsar and Salt Lake City are not separate sovereign entities and are in countries with which we have diplomatic relations. The examples given by A Jones are spurious. – Yours, etc,
PAUL WILLIAMS,
Circular Road,
Kilkee, Co Clare.
Sir, – Following reports that the Irish embassy to the Vatican is to be reopened, A Jones asks whether we can expect embassies to be established in other holy cities.
Unlike Mecca, Amritsar and Salt Lake City, the Vatican City is a sovereign state. Ireland has embassies in Riyadh, New Delhi and Washington DC to handle any affairs involving the three holy cities mentioned. – Yours, etc,
MICK FLYNN,
Viewmount Park,
Waterford.
Sir, – Charlie Flanagan of Fine Gael tells us that it was always the case that the question of our Vatican embassy stood to be reviewed once we had an economic upturn. Great!
Could he now tell us what other harsh decisions, mainly in health and welfare, taken because of the economic situation, will now be reversed? Pope Francis would certainly rate these as of more urgency in terms of benefiting from any upturn. – Yours, etc,
JOHN F JORDAN,
Flower Grove,
Killiney, Co Dublin.
Sir, – I welcome the Government’s decision to open the Irish embassy in the Vatican again. I am sure it makes sense in terms of having a relationship with an influential state, but one can’t help feeling the Government’s decision was based on advise from spin-doctors regarding what is the most populist decision, given the presence of the respected new pope, Francis. One wonders if deflecting from the political meeting of the Reform Alliance this week was a consideration too. Heaven forbid members of the public would get excited at the thought of a new politic, of open honest dialogue with values at its core. – Yours, etc,
FRANK BROWNE,
Ballyroan Park,
Templeogue, Dublin 16.
Sir, – I couldn't help but smile as I read Fiach Kelly's article ("Gilmore links Pope Francis to Vatican embassy decision", Home News, January 22nd). It tells us the Government's very welcome decision to reopen an Irish Embassy to the Vatican was taken because of "the Holy See's renewed focus on tackling 'hunger and world poverty' under Francis". Are we to read into this that our Tánaiste has been touched by the "Francis effect" or even had a Damascene conversion to the faith? Might we look forward to our Tánaiste regularly visiting some of: the one in five Irish children that go to school or bed hungry; the estimated 5,000 homeless people in Ireland; or the 16 per cent of the Irish population that lives on an income which is less than the official poverty line (of €210 per adult per week).
Can we expect the Tánaiste to seriously address the issues of domestic poverty and hunger? And in the meantime, as a stark reminder of the reality of the society we live in and as a cry for social justice, should we not advance the year on the banner that drapes Dublin’s Liberty Hall (ie “Dublin 1913, Thousands lived in poverty, trapped by low pay and few jobs”) to 2014 and change “lived” to the present tense? – Yours, etc,
PAUL CASEY,
The Rise,
Glasnevin, Dublin 9.