IRELAND
Irish Examiner

By Paul O’Brien, Political Editor

Monday, February 13, 2012

There’s quiet diplomacy and megaphone diplomacy.

When Enda Kenny stood up in the Dáil in July and issued a blistering denunciation of the Vatican and its handling of clerical child sexual abuse, he was most certainly engaging in the latter.

Sean Donlon, who as a former secretary general of the Department of Foreign Affairs was once Ireland’s most senior diplomat, believes it was the “absolutely correct” thing for the Taoiseach to do, given the historical lack of co-operation from the Holy See on the issue.

What Mr Donlon does not agree with is tánaiste Eamon Gilmore’s subsequent decision, approved by Cabinet, to close the Irish embassy to the Vatican.