FF would restore Vatican embassy

Fianna Fáil has promised that if returned to power at the next General Election the party will reverse the coalition's decision to downgrade relations between Ireland and the Holy See.

The party's foreign affairs spokesman Seán Ó Fearghaíl said the deicion to close the embassy to the Holy See was ''short-sighted'' and ''cut Ireland off from perhaps the best listening post in the world''.

Speaking during a debate on Newstalk radio, Mr Ó Fearghaíl said that ''if Fianna Fáil was returned to government, we would immediately set about reversing this short-sighted decision of the Government to close the Embassy to the Holy See''.

The closure of the embassy is expected to take effect on January 1, 2012. 

However, scaling back of resources has already begun.