FG: No criticism of Labour over Vatican embassy decision
Another Fine Gael TD has said he would like the Irish embassy in Vatican to re-open.
Paschal Donohue's comments come as speculation mounts that a rift may be beginning to emerge in the Coalition over whether Ireland's representation should remain in the Holy See.
The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore announced the closure of the embassy last year and said the move was made on economic grounds.
Today in an interview with the Sunday Independent, Mr Gilmore insisted the embassy will remain closed.
But a number of Fine Gael TDs announced at the party's parliamentary party meeting last week that they would like to see it re-open.
Among them is Deputy Paschal Donohue who said: "What was noticeable in the meeting is that there was no criticism at all of the Tánaiste or of the Labour Party.
"With all of the difficulty that we are in we should be seeking to maintain representaion abroad rather than reduce it. I think there is a case for slimming down the size of our embassies or even where they are located.
"But reducing them completely and closing them is something that I personally would be concerned about."
