The Church of Ireland's legal advisory committee has cleared the way for the transfer of the Bishop's Palace in Kilkenny to the Heritage Council.
However, objectors to the plan maintained the decision was flawed because it had not received the unanimous vote of the two diocesan councils in question. Ferns diocesan council voted narrowly against the proposal (10 for, 12 against) while the diocese of Cashel and Ossory voted strongly in favour (31 for, 12 against).
The legal advisory committee met on Wednesday to give an opinion on the Representative Church Body's (RCB) decision to transfer the historic building. It ruled that the decision had secured the necessary diocesan consent and so could proceed.
"This clears the way for the RCB to conclude negotiations with the Heritage Council, which will safeguard the future of the palace as a building of significant heritage importance, and to proceed with plans to provide a modern episcopal residence within the Cathedral Close complex in Kilkenny," a statement from the RCB read.
Cashel and Ossory synod has now called on the Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Robin Eames, to hold a meeting of the General Synod to discuss the issue. Objectors to the proposal claim that negotiations on the transfer cannot go ahead until the General Synod has ruled on the issue.
The General Synod comprises clerical and lay representatives and has chief legislative power in the Church of Ireland.
The proposed transfer of the Bishop's Palace has been a controversial issue since it was first mooted last year. Those in favour of the move argued the historic building was too expensive to maintain and did not serve modern needs. Those against the plan said the Bishop's Palace has been home to successive bishops of Ossory for over 600 years and should not leave the Church of Ireland's possession.
Senior Church of Ireland figures have expressed concerns at the plan.
Writing in last Saturday's Irish Times, the Very Rev Leslie Forrest, Dean of Ferns, said it was wrong for the plan to proceed when one diocesan council had voted against it. He also called for information on the comparative costs of refurbishing the palace, creating a private apartment within the building and building a new see house.
The Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, the Very Rev Robert MacCarthy, has also been critical of the plan, claiming that the building had been at the heart of the diocese for hundreds of years and should not be turned into an office block.
